Cameron Jewell (2) of Jonathan Alder finds an open seam against North Union’s defense. The Pioneers shocked state-ranked North Union, 42-13, on Friday. Also pictured are Andrew McGlaughlin (53) for Alder and North Union’s Brody Wilson (5). (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By BOB PUTMAN
What a difference two weeks makes for the Jonathan Alder football team.
After three weeks, the Pioneers were 0-3 and were struggling on offense.
Last week, Alder broke out with a 45-14 win over Northwestern and it only got better Friday night against North Union.
Taking advantage of a blocked punt and two long touchdown runs by Cameron Jewell in the first quarter, Alder went on to take a 42-13 victory over the previously unbeaten and state-ranked Wildcats.
“Last week’s win revived us a little bit,” JA coach Nathan Snedeker said. “We got our edge back and prepped hard. North Union is a good football team.”
“Give them credit,” North Union coach Nick Hajjar said. “They deserved to win the game. It was a good old whopping.”
Jonathan Alder ran just six plays from scrimmage in the first quarter, but the Pioneers dominated the stanza.
Special teams struck first for Alder as Nick Finke cleanly broke through to block an NU punt.
He then scooped it up for an 18-yard touchdown just 90 seconds into the game. It was Finke’s second blocked punt of the season.
Charlie Aurin kicked the point after for the 7-0 lead.
“The blocked punt got everything sparked,” Snedeker said.
Forcing North Union into a three-and-out, the Pioneers needed just two plays to find the end zone a second time.
After a nine-yard run by Jewell, 5-foot-10 sophomore bolted 61 yards for the touchdown.
Aurin once again kicked the PAT and JA led 14-0 at the 8:05 mark.
North Union quickly cut the lead in half.
On the first play after the kickoff, Owen Davis bolted around the left side and 60 yards later, was in the end zone.
Ricky Weigand added the PAT to make it 14-7.
The two teams traded their next possessions with each one forced to punt.
The first play after the North Union punt, it was Jewell once again showing off his speed.
Getting to the outside, he journeyed 88 yards for his second touchdown of the quarter.
Aurin’s PAT upped the lead to 21-7 with 1:31 left in the opening frame.
After the explosive opening 12 minutes, both defenses stiffened in the second quarter.
North Union stopped one JA drive at the NU 21.
Alder’s Jonathan Keith intercepted a NU pass at the JA 21 and then Pioneers stopped another drive just past midfield.
Jewell totaled 191 yards on just nine carries in the first half.
Alder scored twice late in third quarter with Jewell once again being the main cog.
He capped a seven-play, 79-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown smash. Earlier in the drive, Jewell had a 34-yard run.
Jewell once again hit the overdrive button for his fourth touchdown of the game on JA’s next possession, traveling 80 yards for the score.
Aurin added the extra point on both touchdowns and Alder led 35-7 going into the final quarter.
Each team scored a touchdown in the fourth.
Henry Shoemaker found the end zone from three yards out for Alder and Landon Converse smashed over from the one for the Wildcats.
Jewell finished with 355 yards on 18 carries.
Davis led North Union with 98 yards on 13 rushes, while Cayden Lassiter completed 8-of-21 passes for 70 yards. Trey Bossaller had four catches for 27 yards.
Snedeker was more than pleased with Jewell’s final total, but was quick to add another reason for that success.
“The offensive line took its job seriously,” he said.
While leading at halftime, Snedeker wanted to see his team continue to push forward in the second half.
“We have stressed about finishing the game,” he said. “I told them at the half to keep going.”
“We need to take this loss and look in the mirror, starting with me,” Hajjar said. “We need to be ready to go next week. There is a lot of the season left.”
Snedeker will let the team reflect on the win, but next week is just around the corner.
“We will enjoy this win a little while and then move on to next week,” he said.
North Union had been able to take control earlier in its first four games, but it was not to be in game five.
“It was reversed tonight,” he said. “We will learn from it.”