Jonathan Alder’s Jacob Fenik (7) blasts into the end zone against Bellefontaine on Friday. The Pioneers improved to 7-0 with a 31-21 victory. (Photo submitted)
There are times when coaches of even the best football teams have to find out how their squad will handle adversity.
Jonathan Alder boss Brett Glass discovered that on Friday when the Pioneers rallied for a 31-21 victory over
Bellefontaine.
“There were times when frankly, we didn’t play very well during the first half,” said Glass as his squad improved to 7-0.
“They (Bellefontaine) controlled the ball and we really couldn’t stop them.”
The Chieftains took a 7-0 lead in the first period.
Garrett Gross ran the ball in for a six-yard TD and Grant Smith kicked the extra point.
Bellefontaine extended its advantage to 14-0 with 37 seconds left until halftime.
Smith took the ball in from a yard out and added the conversion.
Jonathan Alder quickly regained its footing and tallied its first touchdown with just six ticks left on the first-half clock.
Quarterback JT Keith completed the quick series with a 29-yard scoring strike to Jackson Izzard.
Dylan Moore’s extra point pulled Alder to within 14-7 at the turn.
“That was a huge touchdown for us,” said Glass.
The Pioneers roared back to life during the second half.
JA narrowed its deficit to 14-10 with 6:10 left in the third quarter.
That’s when Moore put his foot to a 20-yard field goal.
The Keith-to–Izzard connection worked again with a little more than five minutes remaining in the quarter.
This time, they covered 18 yards for the touchdown.
Moore’s extra point sent Alder into the final quarter with a 17-14 edge.
Alder climbed to a 24-14 lead early in the fourth period when Keith tossed a seven-yard pass to Izzard. Moore’s extra
point pushed the Pioneers out to a 24-14 margin.
The timer read 4:19 when the Chieftains pulled to within three points.
Smith rifled a 44-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Newland.
Smith also connected on the extra point that sliced Jonathan Alder’s lead to 24-21.
The Pioneers (who will travel to Tecumseh on Friday) added an insurance score with 2:14 left in the game.
That’s when Jacob Fenik scored on a three-yard run and Moore added the extra point.
“There was no quit to our guys tonight,” said Glass. “They held strong and I really feel we dominated the game during
the second half.”