CLICK to enlarge. Meet the Ada High School 2026 Homecoming King and Queen: Jacob Rush and Brooklyn Andreasen.

By Cort Reynolds / Photos by Mark Andreasen

ADA__The visiting McComb football team blew open a close Blanchard Valley Conference game with a 22-point third period outburst to spoil Ada High School’s Homecoming 35-0 on a warm night Friday, Oct. 9 at War Memorial Stadium.

The Bulldogs fell to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the BVC with the home loss, their first shutout defeat of the season.

The second-place Panthers improved to 7-1 and 5-1 in BVC play after the road victory. McComb has won six straight since suffering a 26-7 week two defeat to unbeaten Leipsic.

“We have two games left to keep working,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “We still have a bunch to play for. We have to want to be better in practice.”

Bulldog Wes Mowery intercepted a McComb pass to stop the first Panther possession. Ada senior QB Blake Zoladz converted fourth-and-one on a keeper near midfield, but the drive stalled.

McComb drove 75 yards in 12 plays to take the lead. The Panthers advanced inside the Ada 10 before a costly penalty moved them back to the 21. 

But Panther sophomore QB Ashtin Gallagher rolled left and completed a 21-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to 6-3 Carter Frater.

Luke Kern’s extra point gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 9:57 left in the first half.

On the next Panther possession, Gallagher again connected with Frater on a big gain to the Ada 43. The Ada defense later held on third and 12 to force a punt, which rolled dead at the Bulldog eight.

On third and 10, Zoladz moved the chains with a 22-yard run. But a big loss forced a punt. Gallagher’s run went across midfield as McComb drove into the red zone. But Kolton Dysert stripped the ball and recovered a Panther fumble at the Ada 19.

Gallagher hooked up with Frater on a 39-yard pass to the Ada 15 late in the first half. McComb called a timeout with 14 seconds to go after the Ada defense stacked up a runner for a five-yard loss.

Gallagher rolled left and hit a wide-open Kern for an eight-yard TD strike in the back of the end zone. The extra point kick was no good to keep the score at 13-0 nine seconds before halftime.

The march covered 53 yards on five plays.

Zoladz injured his shoulder late in the first half and was replaced by sophomore Robert Shanks.

McComb came out firing in the second half, sparked by Gallagher’s 42-yard run. A 23-yard pass by Gallagher set up a 10-yard TD run by Kahle Drown that punctuated a 78-yard, five-play drive. 

Gallagher completed a two-point conversion pass to Drown that extended the lead to 21-0 at the 9:04 mark.

After a stop, Kern snagged a screen and scampered 20 yards to the end zone to provide a 28-0 margin with 6:27 to go in the third stanza. Their fourth scoring march took five plays to go 72 yards to the end zone.

Aidin Brown returned the ball to the Ada 43 on the ensuing kickoff. But the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on the good field position.

Kern intercepted a pass that tipped off the Bulldog receiver’s hands, and returned it 34 yards to paydirt to provide a 35-0 lead with 6:26 left in the third period.

A Panther late hit out of bounds helped Ada get the ball at their 47 to start the next drive. However, the Bulldogs were stopped short of a first down and were unable to cash in.

Bulldog Mowery recovered a Panther fumble with 2:30 left to play.

1 2 3 4 F

Ada 0 0 0 0 0

McC 0 13 22 0 35

STATS AND NOTES
Ada netted just 116 total yards and compiled six first downs on 46 plays (2.5 yards per play). The Panthers amassed 392 yards and 20 chain-movers. McComb averaged 8.2 yards per play on 48 snaps. The balances Panthers earned 10 first downs rushing and 10 more passing.

Ada netted 69 yards rushing and 47 through the air. McComb rolled up 215 rush yards and 177 more in aerial yardage.

Gallagher completed 11 of 18 passes for 180 yards and two TDs with one interception. He also rushed seven times for 93 yards. Jackson Hepperly netted 52 yards rushing on five carries.

Frater pulled in six receptions for yards and one TD. Kern grabbed five aerials for yards and two scores.

Zoladz completed eight of 12 aerials for 73 yards before being hurt. He ran for 58 yards on 12 carries. Zoladz leads Ada with 695 yards rushing and 13 TDs this season.

Relief QB Shanks completed two of 10 aerials.

Kolton Dysert caught five passes for 23 yards. Aidin Brown pulled down four receptions for 41 yards. Ryan West added one grab for eight yards.

T.J. Griffith led the Ada defense with five solo tackles. Mowery made four solo stops, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass.

Ada was penalized five times for 28 yards. The Panthers were flagged  just once for 15 yards. McComb committed two turnovers on fumbles, and Ada turned it over once on a pick-six interception.

The Bulldogs possessed the ball for 33:45 compared to just 14:15 by McComb due in part to turnovers. Ada was 3-13 on third down and 2-4 on fourth. The Panthers went 3-8 on third down and 2-2 on fourth.

Ada was eighth in the preliminary Div. VI, Region 22 computer ratings after the loss. 

The Bulldogs finished 2-3 at home with the loss in their final home game of the regular season, while McComb improved to 3-1 on the road. 

Ada plays at last-place Riverdale (1-7, 0-6 BVC) in week nine on Friday, Oct. 16. The Falcons lost at Van Buren Friday, 44-3. Riverdale is rated 20^th in the Div. VII, Region 26 computer rankings.