By Dusty Donley
A 28-point first half was enough to guide the visiting Ada Bulldogs to their fourth straight victory as they marched into Goodwin Field last Friday night and defeated the Allen East Mustangs, 28-22. Freshman quarterback Seth Conley threw four touchdowns, helping the Bulldogs advance their record to (5-3) overall and (4-2) in the Northwest Conference.
Strong winds contributed to a sluggish start from both offenses, as neither team found the end zone until late in the first quarter. With just under four minutes to play in the first, Senior Grant McBride snatched his sixth interception of the year, putting Ada in great field position at the Allen East 34. Conley then engineered a one-play drive as he hit Senior Luke Long-Green for a 34-yard touchdown toss on the next play from scrimmage. Freshman Aaron Everhart's extra point gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 3:29 to play in the first quarter.
Fueled by a strong running game, the Mustang offense came to life on its next possession, moving 69-yards in less than two minutes. Caleb Smelcer capped the drive with a 45-yard touchdown rumble and Bubba Butler's PAT tied the game at 7-7 with 1:32 to play in the first.
Not to be outdone, the Bulldogs would respond with a quick scoring drive of their own, eating 60-yards in less than a minute of play. The pay off came when Conley tossed his second touchdown of the game, a 44-yard lob to Sophomore Owen Conley with 37 seconds to play in the quarter. Everhart's kick put the Bulldogs back in front, 14-7.
The next Mustang drive quickly stalled, giving the ball right back to the red-hot Ada offense. A punishing 20-yard quarterback keeper set up the Freshman gunslinger's third touchdown toss of the game, a 52-yard bullet to Junior Blake Ansley. Everhart's PAT extended the Bulldog lead to 21-7 with just over 10 minutes to play in the second quarter.
Allen East got its groove back on its next offensive possession as the Mustangs covered 80-yards in just three plays. Two Spencer Miller runs softened the Ada defense and quarterback Tanner Stippich took advantage, hitting Smelcer on a 62-yard touchdown strike. Butler's extra point made the score 21-14 with 8:58 left in the half.
Ada wouldn't wait long to respond as Long-Green snagged Miller's kickoff and rumbled 80-yards for the score. Unfortunately, the celebration was short lived, as the Bulldogs were called for a defensive block in the back, negating the touchdown. The penalty didn't swing the Bulldog momentum as it took Conley only two plays to find Owen Conley for a 46-yard touchdown. Everhart's PAT pushed the Ada lead to 28-14, which they would take into the halftime intermission.
The offensive fireworks that were seen in the first half half were replaced by defensive dominance, as both teams laid a scoreboard goose egg in the third quarter. Allen East put together a nice offensive drive early in the fourth, relying heavily on the arm of quarterback Stippich. They found pay dirt with 10:16 left in the game when Stippich hit Miller on a 33-yard touchdown toss. A successful 2-point conversion inched the Mustangs closer at 28-22.
Ada responded with a long drive into Allen East territory, but an incomplete pass on third down set up a 24-yard Everhart field goal attempt. A botched snap led to a Luke Perkins blocked kick and an empty Bulldog possession.
The Mustangs couldn't get anything going on the ensuing drive, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs on their own 45, when a fourth down Stippich pass fell incomplete. The second half offensive woes continued for the Bulldogs as the stiff Mustang defense forced them into a fourth down punting situation with just under two minutes left in the game.
A low snap allowed the AE defense to sack Ada punter Trent Jolliff, giving the Mustangs the ball at the Bulldog 36 and one last chance to snatch the upset victory. A 12-yard Logan Schick run followed by a nine yard Stippich to Smelcer pass got the Mustangs close, but on fourth and six, Smelcer came up inches short as time expired, closing out an exciting Northwest Conference victory for the Bulldogs.
The Mustangs barely edged the Bulldogs in total yards, 433 to 430.
Seth Conley finished the game 24 of 45 for 287 yards and 4 scores. He also led the team in rushing with 73 yards on 13 carries.
Owen Conley led the receivers with 107 yards on 4 receptions and 2 scores. Blake Ansley also added 7 catches for 81 yards and a score.
The Bulldogs host Northwest Conference rival Delphos Jefferson this Friday in an important league contest. The (6-2, 4-1) Wildcats are currently tied with Crestview for second place in the NWC, as both sit behind league leader Spencerville. Ada is currently in fourth, but a win against DJ would make the week 10 Spencerville/DJ match-up very interesting with regards to the Northwest Conference title. Game time is 7:30.
