Jonathan Alder’s Tabor Headings (17) covers Cam Smith (left) during a drill on Wednesday. The Pioneers practiced indoors due to the snow, ice and cold temperature on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
A blast of weather more reminiscent of January than the middle of November forced Jonathan Alder’s football team indoors a couple of days this week.
The Pioneers made the short trips to practice on the turf surface at the Bo Jackson Indoor Facility between Plain City and Hilliard on Cosgray Road.
Alder went through the indoor sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the recent two-plus inch snowfall and the sub-freezing temperatures this week.
The facility has been open for the past few years.
The JA athletic boosters paid the rental fee of $450 for two hours both days, it was reported.
Alder’s baseball squad has practiced there in the past during inclement weather, according to JA head coach Brett Glass.
“We have enough room in here to get some work done,” said Glass. “It’s also better than trying to go outside this week because of the cold and snow and ice on our grass practice field.”
Linemen worked through limited-contact drills, while the offensive and defensive units walked through schemes they will use on Friday.
The Pioneers shared time and split space with West Jefferson’s playoff gridiron squad on Wednesday.
Alder (11-0) will travel to Teays Valley High School on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Jackson (11-0) in the Division III regional semifinals.
JA is the second-ranked team in the region, while the Ironmen are No. 3.
The winner of that game will face either No. 1 Columbus Bishop Hartley (10-1) or No. 4 Granville (10-1) on Friday, Nov. 22 in the regional championship battle.