Alter demolishes Alder to advance

Defending champs amass 494 yards in 42-0 first-round conquest.

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By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 2:07 PM Sunday, November 8, 2009

KETTERING — Alter High School nose tackle Thomas Armstrong knows he doesn’t look all that imposing to offenses — and neither do the lads lining up next to him.

But while the starting front four might be a bit lacking in size, they make up for it with speed and agility.

“We’re not the typical D-linemen, but I think we all could play linebacker,” said the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Armstrong. “We’re quick enough and athletic enough to do that.”

The Alter defense was nearly unblockable during a 42-0 domination of Jonathan Alder in the first round of the Division IV playoffs Saturday, Nov. 7. They held the Pioneers without a first down until the last play of the third quarter. By then, the defending state champions had more points (35) than Alder had yards (25).

“We’ve got strong kids, very quick kids — and they’re smart,” Alter coach Ed Domsitz said. “When you have that kind of combination, you can do some things on defense that you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.”

Quarterback Zane Pitzer ran for two touchdowns and passed for another for the second-seeded Knights (11-0), who will play in the regional semifinals against sixth-seeded Carlisle (9-2) on Saturday at a site to be determined. Pitzer finished with 136 rushing yards on 16 attempts, while Cody Taulbee had 134 yards and a TD on 15 carries.

The Pioneers (7-4) lost the total yardage battle, 494-98.

“They’re the defending state champions, and you don’t get to be defending state champions by accident,” Alder coach Steve Coate said. “They know how to do the things you need to have a great team.

“Their defense stands out, but the offense does exactly what it’s expected to do.”

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