By Cort Reynolds
DELPHOS - Ada senior secondary ballhawk Chase Sumner was named the Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in a vote conducted by the league coaches Monday night at Delphos.
The speedy, sure-handed Sumner led the NWC in interceptions with eight. He also topped the conference in receptions (84), touchdown catches (14) and passing yardage (1,181) in being voted first team offense at receiver.
As a kick return specialist, Sumner also was voted honorable mention all-conference.
Sumner and Bulldog senior Jakob Hoschak were two of five players named first team all-league on both sides of the ball. Hoschak made first team on the offensive and defensive lines.
Versatile Ada senior Aaron Everhart was voted to the second team All-NWC offense at both running back and specialist. He led the team in rushing and scoring, and was a top place-kicker and solid kick returner.
The hard-nosed Everhart also was named second team all-league at defensive back.
Ada junior center Noah Mattson was voted to the second team offensive line.
Bulldog senior quarterback Seth Conley led the NWC in touchdown passes (29) and passing yardage (2,477) to earn second team all-league offensive honors. Drew Kline of Crestview was voted NWC Offensive Player of the Year and was named first team QB.
High-energy senior linebacker Ethan Swaney was also voted second team all-league on defense, and topped Ada in fumble recoveries the past two seasons.
Several Bulldogs earned honorable mention all-league notice. Junior offensive linemen Ethan Hall and Damien Fuqua, senior receiver Jackson Conrad and Sumner at specialist were HM honorees.
Ada senior defensive linemen Xander White and Mason Waugh, and senior linebacker Erryk Katayama all were tabbed for the honorable mention all-league defensive squad. White and Katayama were among the team leaders in sacks.
First-year Spencerville mentor Chris Sommers was selected the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year by his peers. He led the Bearcats to an unbeaten (7-0) league crown, their first outright NWC title since 1963.
Ada finished third in the NWC at 5-2 behind Spencerville and Crestview (6-1), the only two league teams to best the Bulldogs.
