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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 8:46 a.m., Monday, October 15, 2007

Preps: Tackling goals with a prosthetic

By Curt Cavin
The Indianapolis Star

PENDLETON, Ind. — Like any proud father, Earl Ewart wants a copy of the video showing his son Jordan sacking the quarterback three times in a recent game.

But Earl Ewart doesn't want it for himself — the tape is to help motivate others.

Jordan Ewart lost the lower half of his left leg in a lawn-mower accident in 1997. He was 4 years old at the time, too young to understand how the accident would affect his life.

"He thought the leg would grow back," Earl Ewart said.

Of course it didn't, and since the swelling subsided, Jordan has worn a prosthesis. He hasn't let it wear on him.

Jordan, who started playing football the next summer, has also wrestled and is a first baseman with a powerful swing. He competes on a level playing field with his peers, to the point many people are unaware he even wears a prosthesis.

One group that does know is the Shriners Hospital for Children in Lexington, Ky., where Jordan went through rehabilitation and regrouped after his accident. Officials there use video of him playing baseball to show children in similar situations that a fruitful life is possible.

The message is clear.

"Life doesn't end because you lose a limb," said Earl Ewart, who stressed that point to a Hamilton County, Ind., family in the same situation a few years ago. "In fact, people are born without them all the time.

"You're only limited by what you choose to be limited by."

Jordan, a 14-year-old freshman at Pendleton Heights High School, has developed into one of his school's most reliable athletes, a starting middle linebacker and occasional running back on the freshman football team. He suits up for varsity games and is the backup center for punts, extra points and field goals.

His goal is simple.

"I want to try to play (football) in college," he said. "Or maybe baseball."

Pendleton Heights varsity coach John Broughton, a veteran of 34 seasons, won't be surprised if that happens. He has watched Jordan grow through the community's football ranks, from peewee leagues to today. Broughton marvels at every step taken by Jordan, who is now 5-9, 160 pounds and wears size 12 shoes.

"Obviously, he has some quickness and speed issues, but he's as tough as anybody we've got (in the program)," Broughton said. "He's disciplined, and he's always where he needs to be.

"Sometimes you'll see a little bit of a limp when he runs, but otherwise you won't notice a thing that's different."

Broughton turns to watch the team prepare for a recent game.

"Watch him tackle," he said. "He's a very strong tackler."

Jordan, who wants to study engineering at Purdue, is soft spoken by nature. But he will talk about the accident — he tripped while his 10-year-old sister was driving the mower while studying for, of all things, her garden tractor safety credentials for 4-H — and discuss living and playing with a prosthesis.

When it doesn't fit right, the prosthesis is painful. It also hinders Jordan's lateral movement and slows him.

But he doesn't use it as an alibi when things go wrong in life or on the field. He knows he has the support of his family, friends and teammates.

"They pick me up," he said.

The prosthesis requires work, however. He must change the sock that covers the bottom of his leg a couple of times each game to keep the contact point dry and firm.

It occasionally comes loose, as it did last month during a football game.

Earl Ewart said if his son plays running back one day, he expects an opponent might inadvertently pull off the prosthesis while trying to tackle Jordan.

"He'll probably keep right on going on one leg just like he did one time in a baseball game," Ewart said. "It came off as he rounded third base. He hopped the rest of the way home."

Safe or out wasn't the point.

"He kept right on playing," he said. "That's what you do."