By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Ada travels to Crestview in a Northwest Conference showdown Friday that could go a long way toward deciding the league champion.
Ada (4-2, 2-1 NWC) whipped visiting Columbus Grove 37-0 in week six to climb back into the thick of the conference title chase.
Previously unbeaten Crestview (5-1, 2-1 NWC) was knocked off by visiting Spencerville 49-34 last Friday to create a five-way tie for first place in the league at 2-1.
Ada, Spencerville, Crestview, Delphos Jefferson and Bluffton all stand 2-1 in NWC play with four league games left to play. The Bearcats are in the driver's seat at this point since they beat both Ada and Crestview.
Olwin admitted he was surprised Spencerville beat Crestview so handily. "They controlled the ball and got some turnovers; neither team could stop the other. They had a 91-yard drive that lasted over 11 minutes. I don't think Spencerville passed the ball once."
Olwin said one of the major keys to beating the Knights will be to try and contain quarterback Drew Kline. "Kline is as elusive as heck, so it is a big try to contain him," said Olwin.
"He is taking the snap out of the shotgun more this year. He just takes off or runs around and makes plays, usually throwing to Wade Sheets, although they have some other pretty good receivers. But the ball will be in the hands of those two the majority of the time."
He noted that the Crestview defense has not shown blitz much this season. They run out of a 4-2, 3-2 or 3-3 stack defense, and play man in the secondary with one or two high safeties.
The Bulldogs are 3-1 on the road this season, with their lone loss at Spencerville in week five by a 21-17 count.
The Bulldogs have posted two straight one-point wins over Crestview. Ada nipped the Knights 27-26 in a thriller last year at War Memorial, and edged Crestview 14-13 at Convoy in 2015.
Crestview last beat the Bulldogs in 2014 by a 22-15 count. In Olwin's first year at Ada in 2013, the Bulldogs lost at Crestview 63-12 in the regular season, but turned the tables to blow out the Knights 35-0 in round two of the playoffs.
"We will have to score every time we get the ball, get some turnovers and play well on special teams," Olwin summed up of Friday's big game. "We just have to execute and continue to get better."
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
