Watch Ironwood Ridge’s Jake Fischer play football for any length of time and the classic question, “What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?” is finally resolved.
Answer: On offense, the 5-11, 225-pound Fischer is irresistible. On defense, he is immovable. Unless cloning technology makes huge strides before the playoffs, Nighthawk opponents will be the only ones worried about colliding with the burly senior linebacker / running back.
During Ironwood Ridge’s 55-26 victory at Tucson High on Friday, Fischer rushed for 151 yards on 17 attempts, an average of nearly nine yards a carry, and scored a touchdown late in the game, helping to ensure the Nighthawk victory.
Tucson High QB Peter Borquez is also unlikely to forget Fischer’s defensiveness. Fischer intercepted a pass deep in Badger territory early in the game, setting up a Nighthawk score, and later leveled a scrambling Borquez with a crushing tackle that sent the 175-pound QB flying into teammates on his own sideline.
Despite personal achievements that have given Fischer enough football notoriety to make the University of Arizona take notice (he will be wearing a Wildcat uniform next season), he seems less interested in his own statistics than those of his teammates.
“We came out a little sluggish, but our offense was amazing tonight,” Fischer said after Friday’s game. “I just love playing with these guys, it is the best group I’ve ever been around, and not just as teammates, but as people.”
The Nighthawks are now 6-1 and ranked third in the state in 5A-II, with three weeks left in the regular season. Fischer isn’t focused on anything but Friday’s home game against Rincon High School.
“We are taking it week-by-week, and we are definitely not going to overlook them,” he said.
While Fischer is unwilling to discuss anything but the immediate future, he points to the Nighthawks’ commitment during the offseason and practice as a reason for his success, as well as that of the team.
“We all came to work; you see what happens,” he said with a slight smile.
