By Cort Reynolds
The Ada football team can salvage a disappointing season with an upset of backyard arch-rival Allen East Friday in the regular season finale.
A Bulldog victory would deprive AE (8-1, 5-1 NWC) a share of the league title, and possibly also a playoff spot.
On the other hand, with a victory AE will grab at least a share of their first conference title since 1995 - and clinch its first playoff berth in 13 years.
The Mustangs won 20-14 at home vs. Crestview in week nine to stay in a three-way tie for the league lead with two-time defending champion Spencerville, and 2018 co-champion Columbus Grove.
The Bearcats host last-place rival Delphos Jefferson in week 10, while Grove entertains 4-5 Bluffton, so all three league leaders are heavily favored to win.
A Mustang victory at Ada would clinch a share of their first NWC title since 1995, when they went 7-1 to win the crown outright by a game over Columbus Grove and Delphos Jefferson (6-2). AE also went undefeated (8-0) in league play to win back-to-back titles in 1989-90.
AE beat CG 14-11 in the first week of NWC play after they rolled to wins over Bath, Perry and Bucyrus Wynford in non-league play. After a loss to the Bearcats in week five, they have won their last four in the league over Jefferson (54-8), Bluffton (42-7), Paulding (42-21) and Crestview (20-14).
A win would secure a playoff spot for AE, their first since 2006 when they went 9-3 and lost to LCC in the second round. The Mustangs rate sixth in Region 23 heading into the Bulldog rivalry game.
With Grove (11th) and Spencerville (9th) already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in region 23, AE is likely to be the lone NWC team to make it to the post-season.
Ada fell to 2-7 (1-5 NWC) after a 70-40 week nine loss at home to Paulding, their fourth straight defeat. The injury-plagued Bulldogs missed the playoffs for the second straight year after making it 11 out of 12 seasons from 2006 through 2017.
The Bulldogs are 23rd in the latest Div. VI Region 23 computer rankings.
AE averages 29.4 points a game and allows 13.0 ppg. In NWC play, the blue and white score 29.8 ppg and permit just 13.7 ppg.
Overall, potent Ada scores 31.3 points per game but gives up 54.1 ppg. In league action, the Bulldogs score 34 ppg and allow a whopping 66 ppg. The 58 points Ada allowed at Spencerville has been the lowest an opponent has scored vs. the Bulldogs in NWC play.
Ada is 0-4 at home this season, while AE is 4-0 on the road. The lone Mustang defeat came at home to Spencerville (21-7).
Versatile Bulldog junior quarterback Brandon Hull leads the NWC in total offense. He would surpass 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing this season with an average or better final game.
The Mustangs ended a 15-year losing streak to Ada last fall with a 51-0 victory in Harrod to finish 5-5. AE has won five outright NWC titles and shared two championships in 72 full seasons in the league, but none since 1995.
Ada has won six outright and two shared NWC crowns over 56 league seasons.
The Mustangs have not won at Ada since October 26, 2001, when AE beat the 4-6 Bulldogs by a 20-12 count to finish 5-4.
