Producing Capital gains

Jordan Carey was the Capital ballboy when the Cougars won the Class 3A state football championship in 1998.

He remembers the celebration, the exhilaration, and can only imagine what it would feel like to relive the experience as a player.

"I saw those guys do it," he said. "And to have a chance to be state champions is something words can't explain."

If the Cougars (10-2) beat Kentwood (12-1) in the title game tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome, Carey likely will be a key contributor. He's a big reason the team from Olympia has gotten this far, accounting for 2,421 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns, but he balks at the idea that Jordan Carey has carried Capital here.

"It's definitely not a one-man team," he said. "It's been a ton of people. It's a team effort. Other guys have really stepped up."

But Carey is the one player Kentwood Coach Tom Ingles wants covered.

"He's one of those guys that you'd better keep a corner of your eye on all the time, because he's going to do something," Ingles said. "Every time he has the ball, he has a chance to take it all the way."

Carey (6 feet, 198 pounds), who has signed with Oregon, lines up at wingback for the Cougars and is a threat to run the ball (988 yards, 10 touchdowns) or catch it (760 yards, 12 TDs). He also has 505 yards and two touchdowns on kick returns and 168 yards and one TD on punt returns. He's an outstanding defensive back, too, with seven interceptions. He even punts on occasion.

Carey had recruiting interest from Washington, Oregon State, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern, but said he chose the Ducks because they want him to play offense, his first love. His 4.43 speed in the 40-yard dash turned heads this summer at the Oregon camp, where he earned two wide receiver awards, but he is also known for his ability to break tackles.

Carey is the complete package.

"Jordan is a unique athlete," Capital Coach Wayne Sortun said. "He's super-competitive. He has a very strong desire to excel. ... He's just a well-rounded athlete who has the ability to make big plays."

Carey was a starting guard on the Capital basketball team last season and ran a school-record 10.7 in the 100-meter dash in the spring. He won't compete in either sport as a senior because he plans to graduate early and be in Eugene for spring football.

Capital is somewhat of a Cinderella team after starting the season 3-2 (2-2 in Narrows League Bay Division play). The Cougars, facing their ninth consecutive road game, won a mini-playoff to advance to the state playoffs. But they never stopped believing, according to Carey.

"We couldn't worry about what other people thought of us," he said. "If we just went out and played the game, we knew we could get the job done."

Carey and his teammates don't believe they're done yet.

Sandy Ringer: 206-464-8294 or

sringer@seattletimes.com.