London rolls to easy triumph over JA Pioneers
Jonathan Alder’s football winning streak was snapped Friday with a 49-0 loss to London.
“It’s early,” JA coach Nate Snedeker said, adding the coaches need to study the film.
“We have to do a lot of reflection after film work and just reflect after you go through a game like this.”
The Pione...
Jonathan Alder’s football winning streak was snapped Friday with a 49-0 loss to London.
“It’s early,” JA coach Nate Snedeker said, adding the coaches need to study the film.
“We have to do a lot of reflection after film work and just reflect after you go through a game like this.”
The Pioneers fell to 4-3 overall after struggling to contain the Red Raiders’ rushing attack.
London executed just two offensive plays before jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter.
After taking the opening kickoff to its 30-yard line, London’s Daquanne Parks shot past the first and second level Pioneer defenders for a 70-yard touchdown run. The clock read 11:43 after the score.
On the ensuing drive, JA attempted to establish its own running attack. However, the Red Raiders held the Pioneers to a fourth down with 10 yards to go.
A punt by Alder’s Aidan Becker was extended after London was called for a crack block on the return unit.
The Red Raiders began their second offensive series at their own 10-yard line.
Despite being deep in its own territory, London’s Wing-T offense was quick to open holes.
On just its second offensive snap, London’s June Turner delivered another blow on 90-yard run that jumped the lead to 14-0 with 9:37 left in the first period.
“Their offense, until you see it live, can happen faster than you’re expecting,” Snedeker said. “If you are a step slow or a step off, that offense takes advantage and they have athletes that will make you pay.”
With around five minutes left in opening quarter, the Pioneers were able to hold the Red Raiders to a fourth down at their 26.
The opposition’s punt gave JA its best starting field position of the night at midfield.
After gaining five yards, the Pioneers’ offense was stonewalled again to a fourth and five.
The home team kept the offense on the field to gain the first down.
A late hit out-of-bounds on quarterback Grant Horne gifted the offense a fresh set of downs.
Horne made the most of the next opportunity. His keeper went for 11 yards to London’s 19.
“Early on, we were trying to use their aggression against them,” Snedeker said. “We just couldn’t get a steady flow and rhythm.”
The next play saw Horne keep it again, but a fumble caused by Parks was recovered by Marquise McFarlane.
The turnover put London’s offense back on the field at its 15 with 2:50 left in the first period.
The Pioneers got the ball back around the 8:30 mark of the second quarter.
London’s defensive line stood firm, putting JA in a third -and-12 situation.
The Pioneers leaned on Horne’s arm on a play action pass.
The senior chose to throw it to Carter Detweiler, but the ball was swiped by Turner for an interception.
London ran five plays after starting at JA’s 23-yard line, culminating in a one-yard push for a touchdown by Noah Sollars.
At that point, JA trailed 21-0.
Parks raced more than 70 yards for a score that sent London into the half with a 28-0 lead.
“We were just trying to put our guys in positions where they could use their skillsets to help us move forward,” Snedeker said. “We knew it wasn’t out of hand — 28-0 is not out of hand so it was just trying to find ways to beat a good team.”
The offensive struggles continued JA midway through the third quarter.
A fumble put the opposing offense at the Alder 42.
“Defensively, London is very good in a lot of different places,” Snedeker said. “They are able to crowd the line of scrimmage and play man out wide… their kids are well-coached.”
Two plays into the series, a 33-yard touchdown run by Sollars produced a running clock.
Eli Noble’s PAT put London up 35-0 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.
London scored two more touchdowns in the final stretch.
McFarlane had a 28-yard TD and Bryston Toronto had a 35-yard score.
The Pioneers (4-3) suffered their first Kenton Trail Division loss, putting theor conference record at an even 1-1.
JA will return to its home field next week against Kenton Ridge (6-1).
“We just have to know that this is a road bump and not the end of the road,” Snedeker said.