By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Ada entertains backyard rival Allen East Friday for the regular season finale in another must-win situation to keep their post-season hopes alive.
The Bulldogs (6-3, 4-2 NWC) whipped visiting Bluffton 42-17 last Friday while AE lost 27-21 at Columbus Grove. The Mustangs (2-7, 1-5 NWC) would like nothing better than to play spoiler and knock Ada out of a potential playoff berth.
Fifth-year Bulldog head coach Bob Olwin (33-21 at Ada) feels AE is much better than its 2-7 record indicates. "They are young up front and lost a lot of skill players from last year," he explained.
"Allen East has scored on just about everybody; they play hard and can move the ball on anybody," he said. "They run a lot of different offensive formations and have some speed. Their quarterback is real young (Tyler Clum) but he gets rid of the ball quick and does a good job for them.
"They run a lot of jet sweeps, counters, traps and they run belly off tackle. But they also use the spread to throw quite a bit. They have three or four receivers who can run."
The Mustangs employ a lot of different formations on defense as well to confuse the opposition. "They can give you trouble with all the looks they give you, they play multiple defenses," warned Olwin. "Their blitz package is adequate."
Ada has beaten its biggest gridiron rival 12 straight times. The last Mustang win over the purple and gold came in 2004 by a 21-7 count.
The streak began for the Bulldogs in the 2005 finale when Zac Dysert booted a field goal through the snow on the last play to provide a 23-20 win.
Ada has won the last three meetings by scores of 49-34, 21-6 and most dramatically, 28-22 on a last-second goal line stand in 2014 at Harrod. In coach Olwin's first year at Ada, the Bulldogs whipped AE 45-14.
Last year on Halloween night in Harrod, both teams came into the game 6-3 and the Mustangs needed a win to make the playoffs. The Bulldogs raced to a 35-13 lead and held on for the 49-34 victory that knocked AE Out of playoff contention. Ada QB Seth Conley completed 29 of 34 passes for 442 yards and four touchdowns, all to the since graduated Jordan Bailey.
In 2017, senior Conley leads the NWC with 262 passing yards per game. Senior wideout Chase Sumner tops the league in receptions (78) and receiving yards per game (120).
AE's 2017 wins came over Perry in week two (24-14) and against Paulding in week seven (7-6). But they almost beat league-leader Spencerville in the NWC opener, falling only 27-20 in overtime. The Mustangs also were very competitive in losing to Delphos Jefferson, 41-32.
Ada is 3-1 at home while AE is 1-3 on the road this season. The Bulldogs are tied for third in the eight-team league, a game behind Crestview (5-1 NWC) and two behind Spencerville (6-0 NWC), which has already clinched at least a tie for the title.
The Bearcats can take the league crown outright with a win over visiting arch-rival Delphos Jefferson in week 10, or with a loss by Crestview.
Ranked seventh in the Div. VI, region 22 computer ratings, Ada must beat Allen East at home in the finale and get some help if they want to make the post-season for the 11th time in the last 12 years. They are not guaranteed a spot in the playoffs even with a win.
The Bulldogs missed out on the post-season only in 2014 over their long run of success, which started in 2006.
"It is Parents Night and the last time our 12 seniors will get to play at War Memorial, so it is very important for us to go 7-3 and keep our playoff hopes alive," said Olwin. "It is a big contest, and we are as healthy as we are going to get for week 10.
"We have to beat Allen East first before we worry about getting in the playoffs," he continued. "They are capable of beating anybody."
The Bulldogs look to sustain the momentum they created from their convincing win over Bluffton last week. "It would be great if we put eight good quarters in a row together," Olwin agreed. "That's what we have been waiting for all season."
