Jonathan Alder quarterback JT Keith looks downfield for a receiver. The Pioneers will put their 4-0 record on the line Friday at Springfield Shawnee (3-1). (Photo submitted)
The Pioneers of Jonathan Alder (4-0) will take to the road on Friday against Springfield Shawnee (3-1).
The Braves employ a spread-to-run offensive set-up.
The unit is led by QB Drew Mitch.
“He’s the type of quarterback who will run the ball 30 times a game,” said Pioneer head coach Brett Glass. “However, he can throw it, so our defensive unit can’t afford to go to sleep against that.”
Mitch has toted the pigskin 50 times for a team-leading 287 yards and a touchdown.
He has completed 27-of-51 passes for 326 yards. He has thrown three touchdown passes and has been intercepted four times.
When Mitch goes to the aerial attack, his favorite target is wide receiver Jamon Miller.
Miller has caught 11 passes for 105 yards.
Mitch receives help in the ground attack from running backs Max Guyer and Tyler Mercer.
“Those guys pretty much split carries between them,” said Glass.
Glass is more than aware of what Mitch can do to an opposing team.
“We went down to their place a couple of years ago when he was a sophomore,” said the Alder boss. “He went into the game after Shawnee’s starter got hurt and he led them to a victory over us.
“We have to make Mitch one-dimensional,” said Glass. “We’ve got to stop him from running the ball and make him pass it more than he wants to do.
“We’ve been doing a good job the past couple of weeks in stopping the running game.”
Shawnee will throw a 50 defensive alignment against Jonathan Alder.
“They slant, angle and blitz a good deal,” said Glass. “They will also give you multiple coverages in their defensive secondary.”
The Springfield team appears to be best at stopping the run.
The Braves, though, will be facing a double-headed offensive monster when it comes to the Pioneers.
Will Heisler has given Jonathan Alder more of a power infantry attack than in years past.
“Will has come up with quite a few very good games,” said Glass. “He’s a powerful, downhill runner.”
If Shawnee is successful in thwarting Heisler through the line, the Pioneers can always go to their strong passing game.
“It’s a huge advantage having four-year starters at quarterback (JT Keith) and wide receiver (Jackson Izzard),” said Glass. “We’ll take what they give us and try to keep them off-balance.”
Although the Pioneers sport an unbeaten record, their coach is always looking for ways in which to improve.
“We had a difficult pre-season due to the coronavirus, so we’re really still trying to determine what we’re best at doing,” said Glass. “Friday’s game will be another opportunity for us to keep improving at what we do.”
Jonathan Alder will perhaps face its biggest test of the regular season in a little more than a week.
The Pioneers will wrap up the shortened campaign when they host London, which has also won its first four games.
The Red Raiders are coached by former Jonathan Alder gridiron standout Kyle Cutler.
“We want to continue to show improvement against Shawnee,” said Glass. “A couple of ways to do that will be to avoid having them get behind us for any big plays and also have us win the turnover battle.
“After that, we’ll start preparing for London.”