Trevor Moran, right, of North Union, attempts to stiff-arm a London defender while running around the edge last week. The Wildcats have a stiff challenge on Friday as they take on Jonathan Alder. (Photo submitted)
From MOAC to CBC
A pair of local high school football teams with a history of playing each other will rekindle their competition after a two-year hiatus.
The North Union Wildcats will make the quick trip to Jonathan Alder on Friday where they will meet their former Mid Ohio Athletic Conference rival during the Pioneers’ Homecoming celebration.
NU head coach Nick Hajjar said the two teams are fairly familiar with each other.
However, the challenge will still be tough for the Cats as they are coming off of two losses going into the midway point of the regular season.
“We know each other because we are so close in proximity,” said Hajjar. “They are a well-coached, disciplined team that has been clicking on all cylinders since the start of the season.”
The Pioneers will go into the contest 4-0 record with big wins over Bloom-Carroll (42-13) and Urbana (49-14).
Their big wins have paid off for the Pioneers, as they are currently ranked fifth in the Associated Press state poll for Division III teams.
JA is No. 2 in Region 11 of the state computer rankings.
Even with all the early-season success, Jon Alder head coach Brett Glass said the Wildcats have some weapons at their disposal that his defense will have to keep under control.
“They have a two-headed monster in the backfield in Trevor Moran and Trevin Feasel,” he said. “They also have a big line they will use to their advantage.
“Our defensive line hasn’t really seen anything of their size yet this year.”
The tag team of Moran and Feasel has combined for 731 yards and nine touchdowns, putting them in eighth and ninth in the Central Buckeye Conference stat list.
NU’s defense, however, will have to contend with the top rusher in the CBC in Alder’s Garret Proxmire.
He’s tallied 584 yards in 92 carries and worked his way to the end zone eight times.
With the run game in full swing for both teams, both coaches understand what the other is going to bring to Friday’s contest.
Jonathan Alder’s Cade Keaton (40) brings down an Urbana ballcarrier. The Pioneers will host North Union for Homecoming on Friday.(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
“We’re not going to do too much outside of the box,” said Glass. “We are kind of stuck in our ways.”
Hajjar echoed the statement.
“We know what they are going to do and Coach Glass knows that and understands what we are going to do,” he said. “It is going to come down to execution at this point.”
Both teams also have some solid players under center who know how to execute.
Alder’s JT Keith fhas completed 41 passes this season for 622 yards, eight TDs and one interception.
Keith’s NU counterpart, Preston Crabtree, has completed 29-for-49, 410 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
With a tough home game ahead of the Pioneers’ Homecoming celebration, Glass said his players need to take care of business on Friday before they can move onto the Saturday festivities.
“The kids will be focused on the game once the whistle blows,” he said. “The dance is always better on Saturday when you take care of business on Friday.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. with Homecoming celebrations to start prior to the game.