Jonathan Alder’s Cameron Jewell (2) picks up yardage at Tecumseh. The Pioneers won, 14-10. (Photo submitted)
Triad’s Hayden Simpson (27) moves out to block for quarterback Derek Bails (3). The Cardinals lost to Northeastern, 51-14. (Photo submitted)
A wet and muddy field did not prevent Jonathan Alder from moving over the .500 mark Friday evening.
The Pioneers scored a 14-10 victory at Tecumseh to up their record to 5-4.
The win continues quite a turnaround for an Alder squad that began the season with three consecutive losses.
The Arrows took advantage of a Pioneer turnover to put their first points on the board.
JA received the opening kickoff, but lost a fumble on the first play from scrimmage.
Tecumseh recovered and later scored on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line.
Quarterback Nick Corey took the ball into the end zone.
Nolan Shafer extended the Arrows’ lead to 7-0 with the extra point.
Alder moved the ball down the field on a six-minute drive as the initial quarter was winding down.
With 38 ticks on the timer, Will Heisler rammed the ball into the end zone with a three-yard run up the middle.
Charlie Aurin tied the game with the extra point.
Tecumseh regained the lead with 7:36 left in the second quarter when Schafer blasted a 32-yard field goal.
The teams swapped possessions as the Arrows took their 10-7 lead at the turn.
Neither team could mount much in the way of offense during the third quarter.
Tecumseh maintained possession of the ball nine minutes during the period, but turned it over on downs.
The Pioneers scored the eventual winning touchdown with 7:15 left to play in the game.
Quarterback Tabor Headings hit Wyatt Kaizer with a 15-yard pass for the TD.
Aurin’s extra point pushed JA out to a 14-10 lead.
The Pioneers came up with two critical defensive plays down the stretch.
Alder’s Jonathan Keith made a huge fourth-down tackle for a loss.
That gave JA the ball at midfield with four minutes left on the timer.
The Pioneers, though, had to yield possession.
An interception, however, by Simon Fenik at the 1:31 mark sealed the deal for the Pioneers.
JA will close out the regular season on Friday with Senior Night at home against Springfield Shawnee.
The Braves are now 6-3 after their 39-0 loss to London on Friday.
The Red Raiders (7-2) lead the CBC’s Kenton Trail Division with a 4-0 record.
JA and Shawnee are tied for second place at 3-1.
Cardinals fall to Northeastern
Triad’s difficult football season continued with Friday’s 51-14 loss to Northeastern.
The Jets held a 14-0 lead after the first period and took a 38-6 margin at halftime.
The running clock rule was invoked for the entire second half.
Northeastern upped its margin to 44-0 by the end of the third quarter.
Hayden Simpson scored both of the Cardinals’ touchdowns during the fourth period.
Triad (2-7) will close out the season at West Liberty-Salem on Friday.