Alder topples Harding

PLAIN CITY — Turnovers turned the tide in Jonathan Alder’s favor against Marion Harding on Friday night.

Andrew Koenig picked off four Harding passes, three in the second half, to help lift the host Pioneers to a 35-14 win over the Presidents on Volunteer Field.

Koenig’s picks, plus a 10-yard TD reception by the JA junior on Homecoming night, keyed a stout Alder defensive game in the second half after the Pioneers had fallen into a 14-6 intermission hole.

“We made big plays in our passing game, and Koenig made several great plays,” Jonathan Alder coach Brett Glass said. “We also slid our defensive end out in the second half to take away their running game.”

Harding coach John Brady’s team won the first half, but he also saw it get steamrolled in the final 24 minutes.

“You can’t have those turnovers against a team like Jonathan Alder,” Brady said. “We were controlling the game on both sides, but then the turnovers bit us.”

The first half was dominated for the most part by Harding (2-5 overall, 2-2 Mid Ohio Athletic Conference).

“We definitely won the line of scrimmage and we were making plays on both sides of the ball,” Brady said.

But Jonathan Alder (6-1, 4-0) had command on the second half to the tune of 29-0 on the scoreboard. In addition, the Pioneers held Harding to only 71 yards of offense over the final two periods.

“Harding took away our run game and they have a good football team,” Glass said. “We are just happy to see our guys respond in the second half.

Koenig’s TD catch and a 2-point PAT tied the game at 14 midway through the third period.

Koenig then intercepted his second pass of the night and brought it back 72 yards to set up a 20-yard scoring strike from Preston Eisnaugle to Trey Pugh for a 21-14 Alder lead with Jackson Welsch’s PAT boot.

That all came in the span of 90 seconds to stun the Harding ballclub. After Koenig’s TD grab, Harding took the ball at the JA 32-yard line thanks to a 33-yard kickoff return by Titus Douglas and a Pioneer penalty. Four plays later Koenig snagged the pick and Pugh tallied the touchdown.

Koenig’s two interceptions in the fourth quarter were followed by TD runs of 1 and 32 yards by Austin Fooce as JA put a lid on the decision.

Ryan Sayre threw a pair of touchdown passes in the opening half and Harding’s defense rose to the occasion several times, including late in the second period to preserve an intermission lead.

Sayre tossed 15 yards to T.J. Jefferson with 8:35 left in the first quarter and Savion Tyler booted the PAT for a 7-0 Harding lead.

The nifty seven-play scoring drive was set up by a 36-yard opening kickoff return by Nick Middlesworth.

Sayre passed 19 yards to Jordan Scott and 15 yards to Evan McGeorge for key gainers in the drive.

A short Harding punt on the Presidents’ second try with the ball gave the Pioneers possession at the Presidents’ 43-yard line.

Jonathan Alder covered those 43 yards on seven plays, and the effort ended when Eisnaugle ran one yard for a score. A PAT kick failed and the Presidents hung onto the lead at 7-6.

Harding had two good drives in the second period, and the second resulted in more points for the Presidents.

The first attempt fell short on downs at the JA 12-yard line. Keyan Herrell had helped the Presidents get that far with runs of 13 and 46 yards.

Harding started its second march with better field position at its 44-yard line. A 16-yard pass from Sayre to Bryce Starner moved the ball to the JA 38, and two plays later Sayre connected with Scott on a 37-yard scoring aerial.

Sayre had rolled left out of his pocket and threw across his body to Scott, who was streaking down the visitors’ sideline. Tyler again split the uprights with his PAT kick and Harding was ahead 14-6 with 4:21 remaining in the initial half.

Alder looked as if it would score in the waning moments of the half as it moved the ball from its 46 to the Harding 8-yard line.

Harding’s defense, however, came up big when on fourth down from the 8-yard line Middlesworth intercepted a JA pass in the end zone.

dmcphers@nncogannett.com

740-375-5158

Twitter: @starsportsdenny