Jonathan Alder junior running back Garret Proxmire (22) prepares to take a handoff from sophomore quarterback J.T. Keith against Marysville this past season. Both were among several Alder gridders who earned Kenton Trail Division honors in the Central Buckeye Conference. Proxmire was also named the division’s co-offensive player of the year.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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The Jonathan Alder High School football team goes into every season with two main goals…. to win a conference title and earn a position in the Division IV state playoffs.
This year’s Pioneers fell just short of both standards. JA finished second in the Central Buckeye Conference’s Kenton Trail Division by one game to Bellefontaine.
The Chieftains (who finished 7-3 overall) went 3-1 in divisional games, while Alder (6-4) posted a 2-2 conference mark.
JA went into the final week of the regular season with a chance at a playoff berth.
The Pioneers were ninth in Region 16 of Division IV and needed a victory over Springfield Shawnee (6-5 and a playoff team) in order to move into a post-season slot.
Alder, though, fell 17-14 in the regular season finale and missed out on the post-season for the first time in the past four campaigns.
Although the team goals were not realized, there are several Pioneer players who achieved honors in the conference.
Junior running back Garret Proxmire was named, along with Shawnee’s Robie Glass, as the Kenton Trail Division’s co-offensive player of the year.
Proxmire led the ground-oriented Pioneers in rushing with 1,369 yards on 210 attempts. He also scored 11 touchdowns.
“Garret had never played running back before,” said JA head coach Brett Glass. “He was a receiver on the JVs as a sophomore. We asked him if he wanted to play running back. He did and it worked out very well for us.”
The 5-10, 185-pound running back was joined on the Kenton Trail first-team by a handful teammates.
Connor Morgan, a 6-3, 250-pound junior, was named as an offensive lineman; Jacob Fenik, a 5-9, 170-pound senior, earned like honors as a defensive back; and Brennan Blain was named as a defensive lineman.
Morgan was JA’s top offensive lineman, while Fenik tallied 46 tackles as a safety.
Blain, a 6-2, 205-pound senior, was the Pioneers’ top defensive player and finished the season with 70 tackles (12 for losses) and eight sacks.
“Connor works hard in the weight room,” said Glass. “Jacob was a very versatile athlete. He also played receiver and as our ‘Wildcat’ quarterback. In addition, he returned kicks and punts.
“Brennan is an athlete who led by example.”
Sophomore quarterback J.T. Keith (5-10, 165), earned second-team accolades, along with several other teammates.
Keith, in his first season as a starter, completed 87-of-157 passes for 1,292 yards. He passed for 13 touchdowns and ran for three additional scores.
“J.T. had to fill some big shoes after Preston (Eisnaugle) graduated,” said Glass. “He grew as a player by leaps and bounds and became a very good vocal leader.”
One of Keith’s receivers was second-team honoree Dawson Detwiler.
The 5-8, 155-pound junior snared 15 passes for 292 yards and six TDs.
“Dawson didn’t play as a freshman or sophomore… he was always a baseball guy,” said Glass. “Some of his buddies talked him into playing this year and we’re glad they did. He really stretched the field for us with his speed.”
Keith was protected well during the season by a solid offensive line that included second-teamer Michael Boggs, a 6-2, 250-pound junior.
“Michael had played fullback, but put on some size in the weight room,” said Glass. “He learned how to play on the offensive line. He’s the type of kid who makes a good football team.”
Additional second-teamers for the Pioneers are linebacker Brayden Blain, defensive back Jackson Izzard and kicker Jackson Welsch.
Blain, a 5-11, 210-pound senior, led JA’s defense with 93 tackles, eight of which went for losses.
“We had high hopes for Brayden going into the season and he really proved himself,” said Glass.
Izzard, a 6-1, 165-pound sophomore, picked off three passes and tallied 15 tackles in the secondary.
“Jackson developed into our top corner,” said Glass. “He’s an exceptional basketball player and he brought that type of athletic ability to football.”
Welsch, a 5-9, 150-pound senior, was perfect on 33 extra points and hit three-of-five field goals. His longest field goal went for 45 yards.
A total of 70 percent of his deep kickoffs ended in touchbacks.
“A lot of coaches don’t pay much attention to what a weapon a kicker can be,” said Glass. “Jackson was huge for us.”
Victor Fenik, a 6-0, 175-pound senior, earned honorable mention status.
“Victor was also very versatile,” said Glass. “He played strong and free safety, was a cornerback, played receiver and was on our special teams.”
Caleb Howell, a 6-3, 230-pound senior, earned a divisional sportsmanship award.
“Caleb is the type of guy you like to coach,” said Glass. “He was a three-year starter on the offensive line and moved from center to tackle this year.
“He also played all season with a shoulder injury.”