CEDAR FALLS — Ellis Jordan had one of his best football games in his finale wearing an Iowa City High jersey.

The senior running back powered the Little Hawks in the first half and delivered the knockout blow in the fourth quarter, as City High beat Marshalltown, 42-14, for the Class 4A championship last night at the UNI-Dome.

Jordan rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns, scoring on long runs of 40 and 68 yards igniting the Little hawks in the first.

“That was huge,” City High Coach Dan Saber said about Jordan giving them a 7-0 and 14-7 leads in the first quarter.

Jordan used cutbacks and simnple speed on the two runs.

“I was happy once I was home free in the end zone,” Jordan said about the 68-yard jaunt. “I had a goopd cutback, broke a couple tackles and I knew no one was going to catch me.”

Jordan has shown big play ability all season. He displayed it in the biggest game of his career.

“He became a good north/south runner this year,” said Sabers, noting that Jordan wasn’t a running back last year. “He’s definitely one of our most improved players this year.”

Jordan capped the scoring with a 12-yard run after a Marshalltown fumble deep in its own territory. The state title aspirations were within his team’s grasp with a 42-14 lead late.

“Just seeing your dreams come true,” Jordan said. “Me being able to help my team out with three touchdowns. It’s an amazing feeling I love it.”

Jordan added, “It was a picture perfect season. We didn’t want to end the season any other way.”

He chest bumped quarterback A.J. Derby after the game, celebrating the victory at midfield. Even though Derby commanded the spotlight, Jordan doesn’t feel he was overshadowed.

“He’s a great kid,” said Jordan, who finished the season with 1,466 yards and 15 TDs. “If anything he’s helped me out a bunch,”

Jordan left the game to an ovation with a little over three minutes left to play. The memory of seeing family and friends in the stands was fresh in his mind.

“They supported and been with me all season,” Jordan said. “I feel like I played this game, not only for my teammates but for my fans and family as well.”