Fort Worth Southwest receiver Roderick Ford lights up Week 2
Roderick Ford, WR, FW Southwest
His night: Ford helped the Raiders move to 2-0 for the first time since 2012 by contributing 153 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. He had 61 yards rushing and a score on nine carries while adding 92 yards receiving on four catches, including a 68-yard TD.
His story: Ford, a third-year varsity player, is listed as a wide receiver but plays multiple roles in the Raiders’ offense. He’s also a weapon on special teams. In Southwest’s season opener against Joshua he had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. After two games this year, Ford is averaging 11.5 yards per rush and 21.5 yards per catch.
Most memorable moment: When he scored his first varsity touchdown as a sophomore against Saginaw Boswell. “I was a little nervous as a young varsity player, but when I scored I was thinking, ‘We’re getting somewhere now,’ ” he said.
His goals for this season: Ford said he would like to upset some teams along the way.
He said: “We’ve been counted out a lot and we did nothing but work over the summer. I just want everybody to know that this is a new Southwest, that we’re starting over and we’re not the old Southwest anymore. I just want everybody to give their best every time we step on the field. Win or lose I don’t care, as long as everybody did their job and gave all they had, then I’m good with it.
“The blocking has been set up for me. I can’t do anything without blocking. I give credit to the offensive line, the other receivers and on the kickoff to those guys blocking for me. Without them, I wouldn’t score.”
Coach Robert Goebel said: “My initial impressions were of a very talented kid with a lot of God-given ability. He hadn’t quite developed a grasp on his craft. He needed to be coached up a little bit on the nuances of playing the position we’re going to have him play in our offense. He’s a very humble kid, very unassuming and quiet but very respectful and an extremely hard worker.”
“I tell everybody around here you better get him to sign something because I think the kid can plan on Sundays.”
Notable: Ford has committed to play football next season at Missouri.
This story was originally published September 5, 2016 at 8:44 PM with the headline "Fort Worth Southwest receiver Roderick Ford lights up Week 2."