Garret Proxmire (22) of Jonathan Alder picks up yardage against Thornville-Sheridan during Friday evening’s playoff game. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
It has been a remarkable football season for the Jonathan Alder Pioneers.
Folks had an inkling that 2019 would be special, but then again, standout seasons have pretty much been the norm for the program since the 20th Century evolved into the 21st.
JA advanced to the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s.
The highlight came in early December of 2006 when JA played in the Division IV state championship game against Cardinal Mooney.
The Pioneers are the only Union-County area gridiron squad to advance to the state title contest in post-season history.
That team was guided by Steve Coate, who continued the success that had been established by Barry Blackstone.
The torch was passed on a few years ago to former JA player and defensive coordinator Brett Glass.
After missing the playoffs during his inaugural season (2014) as head coach, Glass guided the team to the post-season in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The Pioneers lost a couple of late-season games a year ago, which kept them out of the playoffs.
This past Friday night was special for a couple of reasons.
First, it was the first post-season game played on the new turf at Volunteer Field.
It was also Glass’ first playoff victory as head coach as JA clubbed Thornville-Sheridan 35-16.
The first nine games of the 2019 regular season rarely provided the Pioneers with much in the way of a challenge.
The closest win during that stretch was the season-opening 24-16 triumph after a long road trip to Philo.
Marion Harding, Bloom Carroll, Urbana, North Union, Kenton Ridge, Bellefontaine, Tecumseh and Springfield Shawnee all tried to knock JA off its throne.
No one came closer than 10 points during that stretch.
The Pioneers won games so easily, some around Pioneer Nation might have been wondering what the team would do if it was really put to the test.
The past two Friday nights answered that question and I think alleviated a lot of fears.
Alder closed out the regular season with a topsy-turvy contest at London in a game that renewed a rivalry that went all the way back to the old Darby Valley League, which played quite a few years ago.
The Pioneers needed a late game drive before pulling off a 24-23 win on Dylan Moore’s chip-shot field goal with 0.5 seconds to play.
Jonathan Alder also trailed 13-0, this past Friday evening while hosting Thornville Sheridan in the regional quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs.
The Pioneers went in as the No. 2 seed in Region 11, while the Generals stood at No. 7.
Alder couldn’t do much right during the first half, which left JA Nation scratching its heads.
For a second straight week, though, the Pioneers reached down within themselves and found something.
Call it whatever you want… strength, courage or just plain guts, they found it.
They were bound and determined they not going to lose that game on their new field, which has become yet another great symbol of Pioneer Pride.
The new field was constructed in a relatively short time during the past summer.
In the same manner, the Pioneers came quickly together as a dominant football team… one that could still be playing in late November and possibly beyond.
Jacob Fenik (No. 7 on the left) and JT Keith (No. 2) on the right gain yardage against Thornville-Sheridan on Friday. The Pioneers improved to 11-0 with their 35-13 victory during the Division III regional quarterfinals.
(Journal-Tribune photos by Sam Dillon)