By Dusty Donley

Northwest Conference play began this past Friday night as the Bearcats of Spencerville paid a visit to Ada's War Memorial Stadium to take on the Bulldogs. Senior quarterback Matt Wilcox unleashed a monster game, throwing for 483 yards and 6 touchdowns in route to a 39-21 Bulldog victory. The win lifts Ada's record to 2-0.

Both offenses got off to a slow start, with only the Bulldogs scoring in the first quarter, a 25 yard touchdown pass from Wilcox to freshman Trent Joliff. Senior Austin Dumbaugh converted the extra point, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead after one.

Ada found its rhythm in the second, reeling off 20 points in the quarter. The scoring barrage began just over a minute in, when Wilcox hit Dumbaugh for an 11 yard touchdown. The extra point was bungled, leaving the score 13-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Spencerville answered less than two minutes later as the Bearcats ripped off a 26 yard touchdown run. The extra point notched the score at 13-7.

Wilcox struck again at the 5:28 mark, hitting freshman Owen Conley for a 21 yard touchdown. The Bulldogs attempted a two-point conversion, but failed, leaving the score 19-7 in favor of Ada.

With just over a minute left in the half, the Bulldogs again found pay dirt as Wilcox tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 13 yard beauty to sophomore Blake Ansley. Again, the Bulldogs attempted a two-point conversion, this time with success, ending the first half with a 27-7 lead.

The Bearcats made the most of their first possession of the second half, ripping off a 63 yard touchdown run with less than two minutes off the clock. The extra point brought the score to 27-14.

Ada found the end zone less than four minutes later as Wilcox delivered Ansley his second touchdown of the game on a 13 yard money shot. The Bulldogs attempted a two-point conversion, but were unsuccessful, leaving them with a 33-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Spencerville again scored early, tossing a 16 yard touchdown pass at the 10:47 mark of the fourth quarter. The extra point made the game interesting at 33-21 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Wilcox launched his sixth and final touchdown pass, a 28 yard gem to Ansley with just under eight minutes left in the game. The two-point conversion attempt was no good, giving the Bulldogs a 39-21 lead.

Both teams turned the ball over late, but neither capitalized, leaving the final score a 39-21 Bulldog victory.

Ada amassed 512 yards of total offense compared to just 320 for Spencerville.

Senior Austin Dumbaugh led the Bulldogs with 15 catches for 165 yards and 1 touchdown.

Sophmore Blake Ansley hauled in 10 grabs for 138 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Bulldogs take the show on the road next Friday night for a Northwest Conference clash with the Bulldogs of Columbus Grove.  Game time is 7:30 PM.