In this file photo, JA’s Garret Proxmire (22) runs the ball around the edge during Week 4 of the season. Proximire has been a big part of the Alder offense, as he is near the top of the Central Buckeye Conference leaders in rushing.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
––––
With the 2018 regular football season coming to close, coaches’ eyes start to look a little farther down the road to see what is on the horizon for their team.
For the Pioneers of Jonathan Alder, just beyond the horizon is a potential spot in the Region 16 (Division IV) playoffs as they sit in 10th place, nipping at the heels of that eighth spot.
Alder, though, first has to contend with tonight’s home opponent Tecumseh and its heavy running game.
“Our kids know what is at stake here,” said Alder head coach Brett Glass. “We can only control us in winning this game. Hopefully moving into next week, we will still have a chance at being in the playoffs, so we need to take care of business.”
The Pioneers currently sit at 5-3 for the season and will host a 5-3 Arrows team that likes to run the ball a lot, according to Glass.
“They don’t really throw the ball a whole lot and when they do they are looking to make big plays down field,” he said. “They’ve got a couple of different kids who have played running back over the last couple of games.”
That stable of running backs will be led by David Berner. He has tallied 621 yards over seven games and is averaging five yards a carry.
Gavin Wasson will compliment Berner with his 458 yards and 7.4 yards per carry average.
Glass has seen what the duo can do and understands they are the Arrows’ workhorses.
“They really lean on them,” Glass said. “Last week, they both were 100-yard rushers and three touchdowns between them.”
When the Arrows do throw the ball, they rely on the arm of QB Will Sowder. He has completed only 12 of 46 attempts this season for one touchdown.
Tecumseh, though, has also played other athletes under center to help move their running game.
“They have had a couple of different kids play quarterback as well,” said Glass. “They are guys who will run the ball, but won’t pass a lot.”
The Arrows’ desire to run the ball has Glass on edge about the Pioneers’ offensive opportunities.
“In a game like this against a team that runs the ball so much, they are going to try to limit your possessions by grinding out the clock,” he said. “Each possession for us is extremely important because you might not get a lot of them.”
When the Pioneers do get the ball, they are going to rely on their own running game.
Garret Proxmire will have the duty of moving the ball down field on the ground and with good reason. He is second in the league with 944 yards rushing.
That job, though, could be tough as the Tecumseh defense is going to stack the box.
“Defensively they are a 4-3, kind of load-the-box and force you to throw defense,” he said. “We are built pretty much to run the ball.
“We try to be balanced, but they are going to try and take away our running game, so we are going to have to make plays through the passing game.”
Even though the Pioneers are a self-appointed running team, they also have a solid quarterback in JT Keith.
He is fifth in the Central Buckeye Conference with 1,200 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.
That bodes well for Alder, as Glass understands his team will need to throw the ball to win.
“We are going to have to be balanced on offense,” he said. “If they are loading the box, we are going to have throw the ball and be efficient doing that.
“We have to make first downs and big plays down field when they are presented.”
Along with a balanced offense, the Pioneers will have to protect the ball, something they struggled with last week during their loss to Bellefontaine.
JA coughed up the ball on three different occasions and in a game with limited offensive possessions this week, every drive will be important.
“We’ve got to take care of the football,” Glass said. “Last week we had three turnovers and we might only get three or four possessions a half (this week).”
“If you make mistakes, they are magnified that much more.”
If the Pioneers can keep those mistakes to a minimum, they will give themselves a solid chance at beating a fairly similar team.
A win this week could pay big dividends for a team knocking on the post-season door.