Jonathan Alder quarterback JT Keith fires the ball downfield against Kenton Ridge. The Pioneers will look to remain unbeaten tonight when they host Bellefontaine. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The word “revenge” didn’t come from the lips of Jonathan Alder High School head football coach Brett Glass earlier this week.
Instead, he used a different way to phrase how his squad prepared for tonight’s home game against Bellefontaine.
“The guys know who beat us (Bellefontaine and Springfield Shawnee) last year to knock us out of a playoff spot and a chance to win our division of the Central Buckeye Conference,” he said.
While the JA coach may not verbally express the word “revenge,” there is no doubt the Pioneers have payback on their minds for 2018’s 22-13 loss to the Chieftains.
The 6-0 Pioneers, who are ranked second in the Division III state Associated Press poll, will need a victory over the 4-2 Chieftains in order to keep their CBC title hopes on track.
Bellefontaine runs a spread offense that is designed to move the ball on the ground.
Running back Derek Grose has gained 714 yards through six weeks, but has recently played what Glass described “as a little banged up.”
Quarterback Grant Smith is not afraid to take off and carry the ball himself. Between them, Grose and Smith have tallied 13 rushing touchdowns.
“They both run downhill very well,” said Glass. “We’ve got to play physically up front and take away their ground game.
“However, we also have to keep their passing game in mind.”
Smith has only thrown the ball 64 times through six weeks. He has, however, completed 42 for 65.6 percent.
His aerials have covered 564 yards and produced eight touchdowns against only two interceptions.
“We have to tackle well to slow down their running game,” said Glass. “That’s something we didn’t do particularly well despite the fact we beat Kenton Ridge last week.”
The Chieftains will employ a 4-3 defense that is designed to stop an opponents’ ground game.
They will have to contend with Alder senior Garret Proxmire, who leads the CBC with 908 rushing yards.
“Bellefontaine is going to sell out in order to stop Garret,” said Glass. “It’s going to be a big challenge to get our running game going against them.
“They are very good at stopping the run,” he said. “That’s what they hang their hats on.”
The Pioneers can, however, go to their other weapons if the Chieftains are able to bottle up Proxmire.
JA quarterback JT Keith has passing numbers that are higher than Smith’s.
Keith has completed 60-of-93 passes for 899 yards. He’s thrown 14 touchdown passes and has been picked off only once.
Jackson Izzard and Dawson Detwiler are the type of receivers who can challenge any defensive secondary.
Izzard has caught 18 passes for 320 yards, while Detwiler’s numbers are 14 and 270.
They’ve been on the receiving end of 10 Keith touchdown tosses.
Glass knows what his team has to do in order to remain unbeaten.
“We have to establish our running game and win the line of scrimmage,” he said. “We also have to win the turnover battle, which is something we didn’t do last year when we played at Bellefontaine.”