By Dusty Donley
Fueled by 21 first quarter points, the Ada Bulldogs traveled to Columbus Grove last Friday night and thrashed the Bulldogs 41-14.
BOX SCORE AT BOTTOM OF STORY -
Led by quarterback Seth Conley's 337 yards and 4 touchdowns, Ada's offense scored with relative ease all night. The victory moves the Bulldogs to 3-2 on the season, and 1-1 in the Northwest Conference.
Conley and the Ada offense wasted no time, as the junior gunslinger hit Jackson Conrad for a 43-yard score on the Bulldogs' first possession. Chase Sumner's two-point conversion attempt was no good, leaving Ada with a 6-0 lead with just under 11 minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Vicious Ada defense forced a Grove punt, giving the ball back to Conley and his high-octane offense. Seven plays later, Conley found senior Owen Conley for a 7-yard score. Seth Conley's quarterback keeper was good for two, lifting the Ada lead to 14-0 with 4:46 left in the first quarter.
The Ada defense once again forced a Grove punt, but this time, Chase Sumner took the Reid Stechshulte kick and left his mark on the game. The athletic playmaker received the punt at the Ada 40 then turned on the jets, breaking multiple tackles in route to a 60-yard punt return score. Aaron Everhart's point after kick was good, giving Ada a comfortable 21-0 lead with just over three minutes still remaining in the first quarter.
Seth Conley would add a third touchdown pass late in the second quarter when he connected with Sumner for a 3-yard score. Everhart's extra point gave the Bulldogs a 28-0 first half shut-out.
Columbus Grove was the only team to find the end zone in the third quarter as Grove quarterback Stechshulte called his own number, rumbling in for a 24-yard score. Logan Malsam's extra point kick was good, cutting the Ada lead to 28-7.
Grove posted their second and final score of the game midway through the fourth quarter when Stechshulte once again scored on a quarterback keeper. The 5-yard score, plus Malsam's extra point cut the Ada lead in half, 28-14.
That was as close as Columbus Grove would get, as the Bulldog offense would add two more scores over the final six minutes. The first, a 62-yard Conley to Conley touchdown toss, and the last, a 2-yard Mason Klingler run. Everhart's first extra point was good, but his second was blocked, giving us a 41-14 final score.
Ada out gained Columbus Grove in total yards, 365 to 274. The visiting Bulldogs had a massive advantage through the air, throwing for 337 yards to Grove's 98.
Ada quarterback Seth Conley finished the game 22 of 35, for 337 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Owen Conley led the receivers with 8 receptions for 124 yards and 2 scores. Chase Sumner hauled in 7 grabs for 107 yards and a score. He also added the 60-yard punt return touchdown.
The Bulldogs return home this Friday night to take on league powerhouse Crestview (4-1, 1-1). The Knights are coming off a tough 44-41 loss to NWC leader Spencerville.
