By Cort Reynolds / Photos by Mark Andreasen

ADA__The Ada High School football team lost to explosive Leipsic 47-10 in an all-purple and gold Blanchard Valley Conference contest on Friday, Sept. 25 at War Memorial Stadium.

The Vikings scored the last 26 points to pull away from a competitive 21-10 early shootout.

Leipsic junior quarterback Marc Kirkendall threw five touchdowns and ran for another to pace the victorious offense.

The Bulldogs fell to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the BVC with the home defeat.

The undefeated Vikings improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in BVC play after securing the road win.

“We are going to get back to fundamentals this week and try to rebound and get Elmwood,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “They are a great team.”

Leipsic took the first possession at their 22 and drove 78 yards to paydirt. The accurate Kirkendall completed all four passes he threw on the march, then capped it with a 13-yard touchdown run. The extra point by Thomas Diassantos made it 7-0.

Ada started at its own 35 after the ensuing kickoff. Penalties helped force a punt that Leipsic’s Avery Paris returned 62 yards for a TD, but the score was negated by a Viking penalty. 

Kirkendall then connected with an open Marquise Williams behind the Ada defense, and the speedster raced 72 yards to paydirt with 2:41 left in the first period. The PAT doubled the Viking lead to 14-0.

Kolton Dysert returned the kickoff 50 yards to the Leipsic 42 to give Ada good field position. A nine-yard pass from Blake Zoladz to T.J. Griffith gained nine yards, and Dysert picked up a first down at the 32.

On fourth and two, Zoladz ran for three yards to move the chains. Defensive pass interference advanced Ada to the 11, followed by a hold on the Bulldogs. Zoladz was sacked for a loss of six. 

On third and 24, a 17-yard gain reached the Viking eight. Senior Andrew Allen booted a 25-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3 with 10:02 left in the opening period.

Colin Niese juggled an aerial from Kirkendall before he hauled it in and scampered 62 yards to the end zone with 9:06 left in the half. The PAT kick increased the lead to 21-3.

The Bulldogs drove 61 yards for their first touchdown in response. Zoladz eluded a rush and fired a 43-yard pass to Aidin Brown down to the Viking 15 to spark the drive. 

On fourth and a yard, Dysert spun off the pile for four yards to the two. On third and goal from the one, Zoladz faked a handoff and kept it for a one-yard TD run around right end. 

The Allen extra point sliced the margin to 21-10 with 4:09 left in the first half. Aaron Hazelton ran 12 yards to start the next Viking drive. A long fade toss from Kirkendall was caught by Grady Bryan despite good coverage for a gain of 41 yards to the Ada eight.

Williams scored on a four-yard run to make it four TDs in four possessions for Leipsic. The PAT kick stretched the lead to 28-10 with 1:52 left in the half. Neither team scored on their last possession of the flag-marred half.

Leipsic took the second-half kickoff and drove methodically downfield. Bryan snagged a 25-yard scoring strike bullet from Kirkendall to extend the lead to 35-10 with 8:42 to go in the third quarter.

On third and eight near midfield, Zoladz fired a long incompletion as he was hit to force an Ada punt. Leipsic drove and scored on a 21-yard slant to the post from Kirkendall to Paris with 4:48 left in the third stanza. The TD stretched the margin to 41-10 and enacted the running clock. 

Williams then caught a short pass at the 19 and sped around right end down the sideline to complete a 24-yard TD with 6:17 remaining. The PAT kick sailed wide to keep the margin at 47-10.

Ada sophomore backup QB Robert Shanks ran for 20 yards, but it was called back for holding. Time ran out shortly thereafter.

STATS AND NOTES

Ada netted 140 yards and amassed eight first downs on 42 plays (3.3 yards per play). Leipsic racked up 475 yards and compiled 23 chain-movers. The Vikings averaged 12.8 yards per play on 40 snaps.

Leipsic netted 104 yards rushing, and rolled up 371 through the air. Ada netted 79 rush yards and added 61 in aerial yardage.

Three-year starter Kirkendall completed 18 of 20 passes for 371 yards and five TDs. He was 9-11 for 237 yards in the first half alone. He also ran 18 times for 37 yards and a score on five rushes.

Hazelton rushed nine times for 56 yards and one TD. Williams caught four aerials for 119 yards and two TDs. He ran the ball five times for 21 yards. 

Bryan snared six passes for 115 yards and a score. Paris snagged four passes for 54 yards and a score. Niese added a 62-yard TD reception.

Zoladz completed seven of 11 aerials for 69 yards, including seven of nine in the first half for 62 yards. He also ran for 27 yards and a TD.

Dysert carried the ball seven times for 21 yards. He also caught three passes for 13 yards. Shanks authored three runs for 15 yards.

Brown pulled in two receptions for 47 yards.

Griffith made six solo tackles and had one reception.

Ada was penalized four times for 30 yards. The Vikings were flagged eight times for 70 yards.

Ada fell to 11^th in the preliminary Div. VI, Region 22 computer ratings after the loss Friday night. Potent Leipsic is third in Region 26.

The Bulldogs visit improved Elmwood (4-2, 3-2 BVC) in week seven on Friday, October 2. The Royals rallied late to nip Van Buren Friday, 21-20. Ada lost to VB in week five, 28-14.

The Bulldogs are 3-0 on the road and 1-2 at home. Elmwood is also 1-2 at home and 3-0 on the road. The Royals are eighth in the early Region 22 rankings and have won three in a row.