By Cort Reynolds
HARROD--The Allen East football team outscored visiting Ada High School 28-0 in the second period to convincingly defeat their backyard rival 52-7 and win the Northwest Conference championship outright Friday night, October 21, at a windy Goodwin Field.
"Ultimately at the end of the day, we expect more from our kids; we needed to compete better and we didn't," said Ada second-year head coach Toby Smith. "I am proud of how hard we competed in the second half, but it was too little, too late.
"They took the fight to us and we didn't answer," he added. "Hopefully, we can learn from this and get stronger for next year."
The Bulldogs fell to 3-7 overall and finished 2-5 in the NWC (sixth of eight) with the season-ending loss. The Mustangs clinched their first outright league title since 1995 with the big win, improving to 9-1 and 7-0 in the NWC.
Mustang senior quarterback Jacob Hershberger ran for three scores and passed for two touchdowns to lead the quick-strike AE offense to a commanding 49-7 halftime cushion.
"Hershberger is probably the Player of the Year in our league, and deservedly so," Smith offered.
The elusive Hershberger scampered 64 yards to score easily and give AE a 7-0 lead just 28 seconds into the fray.
But Ada responded with a 73-yard, nine-play drive. A good run by Casen Jones and an 18-yard carry By Levi Green sparked the scoring march. Jones converted a fourth and two run with three big yards to the AE 31.
Green then connected with an open classmate Kaine Fisher down the right sideline for a 29-yard TD pass with 7:03 left in the first period.
Wyatt Green's point after kick tied it 7-7. But then behind its big-play offense, speedy AE reeled off 45 unanswered points to win going away.
Hershberger capped a brief three-play drive with a 43-yard TD pass to Caleb Hopkins at the 6:28 mark to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish, 14-7.
On the next Mustang possession, Hershberger made a few nice moves and outran the defense 62 yards to the end zone for a one-play drive. Braylon Kennedy's third PAT kick extended the lead to 21-7 with 4:43 still left in the opening stanza.
Ada's next possession ended with a 48-yard punt from Levi Sousley. AE started on it sown seven and marched downfield.
A 50-yard pass over the middle to Keaton Lehman, who added on yards with a few good after the catch moves, keyed the drive. But then on a Mustang run Bulldog freshman Kayleb Hickman alertly stripped the ball to give Ada possession at its own 24.
But after a quick three and out and a short punt, AE took over on the Ada 47. Mustang back Jack Hoel scurried 25 yards off left tackle to score at the 8:59 mark as the lead moved to 28-7.
On the next Mustang possession, Hershberger launched a high spiral that Caleb Hopkins ran under and caught around the 10 and ran in for a 51-yard TD aerial with 5:05 to go in the half.
AE then recovered a fumbled pitchout at the Ada 10 to set up their next score. Hershberger made a nice cutback on a run to the left and scored from seven yards out to stretch the margin to 42-7 at the 3:39 mark.
The Mustangs got another short field at the Bulldog 36. A Hershberger pass over the middle to a sliding Lehman gained 26 yards to the 10. Jack Hoel then rambled 10 yards around left end to paydirt with 37 seconds to go in the half.
Left-footed Kennedy hammered his seventh PAT to make it 49-7 heading to intermission.
A fumbled snap on a Bulldog punt try to open the second half gave AE the ball at the Ada 20. On fourth down, the strong-legged Kennedy booted a 34-yard field goal with 7:11 to go in the third period to make it 52-7.
Ada took over on its 35, and Green scrambled for a first down at the 47. His aerial to Rowan West gained 11 yards. On third and eight, Jones ran for seven yards. On fourth and one, Green sneaked for just over a yard to move the chains.
On second and 11 on the initial play of the final period, a pass to Max Puerto earned another fist down to the AE 15. A third and five toss was intercepted by a diving Jacob Pinks near the AE goal line with 9:43 remaining.
Ada recovered a fumble at the Mustang one, but was unable to punch it in on several tries. Neither team scored in the final quarter.
"We made a ton of strides," Smith summed up regarding the season. "We are right on track and made a lot of progress we can be proud of when we think back on the season in a few weeks."
1 2 3 4 F
AE 21 28 3 0 52
Ada 7 0 0 0 7
Notes and stats
Ada netted 202 yards in total offense on 57 plays for an average gain of 3.5 yards per play. AE racked up 415 yards on just 34 snaps for a hefty 12.2 yard average per play.
The Bulldogs carried the pigskin 40 times for 123 yards (3.1 average). AE ran the ball 23 times for 219 yards (9.5 avg.).
Green completed five of 17 passes into the steady north win for 79 yards. He threw for one TD and tossed one interception. Green also rushed 19 times for 86 yards.
Jones added 33 yards on 18 runs.
Sousley snagged two receptions for 27 yards. Fisher added one grab for 29 yards and the lone Ada TD.
Hershberger efficiently completed seven of 11 aerials for 196 yards and two TDs in just one half of play. The senior QB also rushed for 140 yards and three scores on just five carries.
Jack Hoel carried nine times for 65 yards.
Hopkins caught four aerials for 106 yards. Lehman snagged three passes for 90 yards.
Ada compiled 13 first downs. Seven came on the ground, five through the air and one by penalty.
AE amassed 15 first downs, with eight coming on the ground and six through the air, plus one via penalty.
Each team had two turnovers, with AE fumbling twice. Ada threw one interception and lost one fumble. Each team was penalized three times in the contest, with the Bulldogs losing 25 yards and AE 35.
Ada made it on just three of 13 third down tries, but went 3-3 on fourth down. The Mustangs converted two of six third down attempts and did not go for it on any fourth down.
Ada won in time of possession, 35:52 to 12:08 as the second half was played with the running clock.
The Bulldogs went 0-4 on the road, while AE is 4-1 at home.
Ada dropped out of contention for a playoff spot with the loss. The Bulldogs ended up 19th in the unofficial Div. VII, Region 26 rankings. The top 16 teams in each region make the playoffs.
AE finished second in the Div. VI, Region 24 computer rankings and will host a first round game next weekend, likely against Paint Valley Bainbridge (6-4). Marion Local (10-0) is first.
