By Cort Reynolds

After playing two road games in a row, Ada returns home to entertain streaking Columbus Grove Friday evening, October 13, in week nine.

Co-league leader Grove is 5-0 in the Northwest Conference (6-2 overall) after romping to a 37-0 win at Crestview last Friday.

After a 1-2 start, CG has won five in a row to keep pace with Bluffton atop the NWC as the only two undefeated teams left in league play. They have outscored the opposition 201-42 during their win streak.

Grove and the Pirates meet in a week 10 regular season showdown finale at CG.

“Columbus Grove is a very talented football team,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “Explosive on offense and stout on defense. 

“We will need to have a great week of practice if we want to see improvement,” he added.

Ada is 1-2 at home this season. CG is 3-2 in away contests, having previously beaten Leipsic and Delphos Jeff on the road. 

The Grove losses came at Pandora-Gilboa in week one (25-22), and in week three at Patrick Henry (40-28).

Ada (3-5, 1-4 NWC) fell one spot to 20thth in the Div. VII, Region 26 rankings after last Friday’s loss to Spencerville. Eighteen teams in a loaded region 26 are above .500, and seven teams have either seven or eight wins. Six more teams are 6-2.

CG is third in the Div. VI, Region 22 rankings, behind first-place Bluffton and Colonel Crawford. The unbeaten Pirates have posted six straight shutouts.

Kickoff for the annual Bulldog battle between Ada and Grove is at 7 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium.