By Cort Reynolds
ADA - Ada plays at neighborhood foe Bluffton Friday in a week nine battle of struggling, bitter rivals sporting identical records.
The slumping Pirates (2-6, 1-4 NWC) got bombed at home by co-league leader Spencerville in week eight, 47-0. Meanwhile, Ada (2-6, 1-4 NWC) comes into the fray having lost four in a row and five of its last six.
Bluffton won its season opener over Cory-Rawson 28-6, then lost five straight. The lone Pirate league triumph came over last-place Delphos Jefferson, 7-0. Ada also crushed DJ 38-6 for their only NWC victory.
"Bluffton is much better than their record," warned Ada head coach Shawn Christopher. "Their fullback, Deandre Nassar, is as physical a back as there is in the league. He runs hard and is deceptively fast."
Ada has beaten Bluffton 10 of their last 11 meetings, including a 42-41 thriller at Harmon Field in 2014. The Bulldogs won 42-17 last year in Ada, and triumphed 38-14 at Bluffton in 2016.
The Pirates won 27-21 at Ada in 2015 to end an eight-game losing skid to the Bulldogs.
"This will definitely be a test for us," said Christopher. "We have to be more solid defensively, which starts with more discipline. The offense they run, if you don't stay disciplined, will exploit you.
"Offensively, we need to do a better job of execution, especially up front," he continued. "This game will be won at the line of scrimmage."
Bluffton is 0-3 on its home turf of Harmon Field. Their last win at Harmon over Ada came six home games ago in 2006 by a 28-22 count.
Ada is 23rd in the Div. VI, Region 22 rankings while Bluffton is right ahead of them in 22nd place. Both clubs have been eliminated from playoff contention.
"We have a winnable game at Bluffton, and we will be prepared," added Christopher.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
