Jonathan Alder’s High School football team will open the 2021 season on Friday at Amanda-Clearcreek.
The Pioneers (8-1 during the 2020 campaign) will be guided by new head coach Nathan Snedeker.
He took over for former head coach Brett Glass, who is now the football boss at Dublin Jerome High School.
Snedeker said the Aces will provide Alder with a stout season-opener.
“The are as solid as they’ve always been,” said the former Pickerington North High School assistant coach.
Amanda-Clearcreek will show an offense that features 2×2 receivers with a good deal of zone reads.
Snedeker said the Aces are led by an athletic quarterback.
“We are going to have to be disciplined on defense against multiple offensive fronts,” he said. “We can’t afford to get caught out of position.”
The Aces will employ the same 3-4 defensive scheme from the 2020 campaign.
“They can work in multiple looks from their 3-4,” said Snedeker. “They will bring a lot of pressure from different spots on the field.”
Snedeker said it’s no secret what the Pioneers will need to do when the ball is in their hands.
“We will have to identify where Amanda Clearcreek’s pressure is coming from,” said the first-year head coach. “We have to keep moving the ball.
“Discipline will be at the heart of this battle,” he said. “We will have to maintain a consistent focus.”
The Pioneers will have a new starting quarterback this season.
J.T. Keith graduated after serving as Alder’s starting QB for the past four seasons.
Taber Headings has been handed the keys to the Pioneers’ offense.
Friday’s contest is the first of what Snedeker calls a three-week “meat-grinder” to open the season.
After facing Amanda-Clearcreek, the Pioneers will host Thornville Sheridan on Aug. 27 and travel to Bloom Carroll on Sept. 3.
“We’re going to be running the gauntlet this year, especially the first three weeks of the season,” said Snedeker.
“We will not have any margin for error this year.”