Jonathan Alder’s football team got back on the winning track Friday with a 35-28 victory at New Carlisle Tecumseh.
It was a game of back-and-forth scoring as the two teams kept pace with each other during the first three quarters.
Tecumseh took a 7-0 lead, only to see the Pioneers (6-2) tie the game on Preston Eisnaugle’s eight-yard pass to Dalton Potts.
Ethan Gordin’s extra point tied the game at 7-7 by the end of the opening quarter.
Tecumseh went on top 14-7 before Jamie Dye’s three-yard run and Gordin’s conversion tied the game at 14 by halftime.
Dye broke through Tecumseh’s defense for a 30-yard run in the third quarter.
Gordin’s PAT put the Pioneers (who will host Shawnee on Friday) up by a 21-14 count.
Tecumseh wasn’t down for long as another touchdown sent the game into the final period knotted at 21.
Eisnaugle used his feet to put the Pioneers ahead. He scored on a 16-yard run.
Gordin’s conversion gave JA a 28-21 lead.
The home team came back to tie the game once again.
Alder’s winning touchdown came on Eisnaugle’s 15-yard pass to Drew Myers.
The Pioneers’ offense was more balanced than Tecumseh’s.
JA rushed for 161 yards and passed for 206.
The bulk of Tecumseh’s 325 total yards (278) came on the ground.