Jonathan Alder’s Will Heisler (26) picks up yardage during the second game at home of the 2021 season against Thornville Sheridan. JA’s Volunteer Field will host Friday evening’s Division IV state semifinal game between Bloom Carroll and Clinton-Massie. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Jonathan Alder High School’s Volunteer Field has hosted a number of Pioneer playoff football games over the years.
The facility will be used this weekend for the highest level it has ever hosted.
Jonathan Alder was awarded a playoff state semi-final game that will be played on Friday.
The 7 p.m. kickoff will feature a Division IV state semifinal between Bloom-Carroll (14-0) and Clarksville Clinton-Massie (12-1).
Bloom Carroll was seeded No. 1 in Region 15 for the opening rounds of the playoffs.
Clinton-Massie was fourth in Region 16.
Clinton-Massie is certainly no stranger to the facilities at Jonathan Alder.
The Falcons played home-and-home regular season games against the Pioneers during a period when JA was an independent.
The Bulldogs of Bloom-Carroll defeated Jonathan Alder, 23-3, during the third game of the 2021 regular season.
That game was played at Bloom-Carroll.
The selection of the state semifinal locations was announced Sunday afternoon by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Jonathan Alder is one of three sites in central Ohio chosen for semifinal games.
London High School will host a pair of semifinal contests.
The Red Raiders’ field will be used for Friday’s D-III state semi-final that will pit Hamilton Badin (13-0) against Granville (13-0).
A Division V state semifinal between Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (10-2) and Versailles (13-1) will be played there on Saturday.
Both games will begin at 7 p.m.
The other central Ohio playoff location is Westerville Central.
The Warhawk field will host a Division II state semifinal on Friday.
That game will be between Cincinnati Winton Woods (11-3) and Uniontown Green (11-3).
The game will also begin at 7 p.m.
The winners of the state semifinal games will move on to the state championships.
Those games will be held Dec. 2-4 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Jonathan Alder athletic director Scott Reule could not be reached by the Journal-Tribune for comment before press-time today.