By Dusty Donley
With the offense struggling due to inclement weather, it was the Bulldog special teams unit that made the play of the game, helping to secure a 14-13 Ada road victory over the Crestview Knights. The tough Northwest Conference win moves the Bulldogs to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the NWC.
Dreadful weather conditions wreaked havok on both offenses as neither team was able to find a groove early in the game. With Ada consistently shutting down Crestview's potent running game for most of the first quarter, the Knights would turn to the arm of quarterback Dylan Grandstaff.
With just under four minutes to play in the first, Grandstaff would connect with wide-out Branden Van Cleave, who would break a tackle and rumble 66-yards for the score. Nick Springer's point after kick was good, giving Crestview the 7-0 lead.
The Bulldog defense would continue its solid play in the second quarter as Ethan Swaney pounced on a Grandstaff fumble, giving the ball back to the offense at the Ada 47. Several plays later, Bulldog quarterback Trent Joliff found a wide-open Jordan Bailey who would turn on the jets and race his way to a 53-yard score. Aaron Everhart's extra point kick was good, knotting the score at 7-apiece.
Both teams would display solid defense over the remaining eight minutes of the first half, leaving the score 7-7 at the intermission.
Crestview would break the 7-7 tie early in the third quarter as Grandstaff and the Knight offense would take the second half kick-off and march 65-yards in 12 plays. They found pay dirt when the senior quarterback called his own number, scampering in for the 8-yard score.
On the ensuing extra point try, the Ada special teams unit would make what would eventually become the play of the game. As Nick Springer tried to convert his point after kick, a flurry of Ada defenders converged upon the Knight kicker, blocking his attempt, thereby leaving the score 13-7 in favor of Crestview with 6:20 left to play in the third quarter.
After a second recovery of a Crestview fumble, Joliff and the Ada offense would once again capitalize, as the Junior gunslinger would find Senior Blake Ansley for a 5-yard score. Everhart's extra point boot would give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, as they would move ahead 14-13 with 7:33 left to play in the game.
Down, but not out, Crestview speedster Jordan Miller would take the following kick-off and slice his way 77-yards to the Bulldog 13. The Ada defense would let the Knights move no further, as Grandstaff was sacked on fourth down, giving the ball, and the game back to Ada.
The Knights out-gained the Bulldogs in total offense, amassing 330 yards to Ada's 197. Neither team had much success on the ground, as the Bulldogs rushed for 13 yards to Crestview's 85.
Bulldog quarterback Trent Joliff went 17 of 29 for 154 yards, 2 scores and a pick. Blake Ansley led the receivers with 12 grabs for 93 yards and a score. Jordan Bailed added 2 catches for 60 yards and a score.
The opportunistic Ada defense won the turnover battle as Bulldog defenders recovered 2 Crestview fumbles and intercepted Grandstaff 3 times.
Ada will celebrate its homecoming festivities this weekend as they take on the Paulding Panthers. Win-less Paulding (0-5, 0-2) is coming off a shut-out loss to the Allen East Mustangs, 19-0. Game time is 7:00.
