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| 10/17/2009 8:16:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Ada takes down local rival Mustangs; Jackson totals 8 TDs
By Cort Reynolds
Ada Herald Writer
ADA - Allen East battled hard but was simply outgunned at Ada by the legs and arm of Heath Jackson in the annual renewal of their rivalry grudge match on an unseasonably cold Friday night.
The Bulldog senior quarterback accounted for over 450 yards of total offense, ran for four touchdowns and threw four more scores to lead Ada to a 55-20 whipping of the backyard rival Mustangs in the Northwest Conference battle.
The Bulldogs improved to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the NWC with the convincing win, while AE fell to 3-5 and 3-4 in the league. The victory allowed Ada to keep pace with LCC (7-1, 6-0 NWC) atop the league standings as they head toward a season-ending showdown Oct. 31 in Lima. The Bulldogs have now beaten the Mustangs five consecutive times.
The game started unconventionally when AE recovered a high on-sides kick. Yet on the next play the Mustangs fumbled the pigskin back to Ada near midfield. Four plays later, Jackson deftly faked a handoff and sped 22 yards up the middle to paydirt to give the hosts a 7-0 lead just 65 seconds into the fray.
Jackson ignited the next drive with a 42-yard pass on the sideline to Matt McBride to the Mustang eight. Three plays later, Jackson scored on a three-yard TD run to cap a quick 63-yard march and give Ada a 14-0 bulge.
A good kickoff return by Blake Truex with a late hit penalty tacked on gave AE possession just past the 50. Andrew Rettig took a pitchout and sprinted 44 yards to the Ada five. On third down, Russell Goodwin got the Mustangs on the scoreboard with a one-yard TD plunge, and they trailed 14-7 with 5:53 still to go in the lengthy first period.
AE stopped Ada's next drive when Jackson's 32-yard scamper was negated by an illegal block penalty. However, Ty Jolliff intercepted a high-arching Mustang pass moments later to give the 'Dogs the ball back at their own 28.
After a 12-yard aerial to McBride, Jackson found paydirt again on a 60-yard run down the right sideline. With 50 seconds to go in the first stanza, Austin Everhart's third successful PAT boot gave the Bulldogs a 21-7 cushion.
A Max Yankee sack of AE quarterback Aaron Swaney thwarted the following AE possession. Ada took over at its on 19 and quickly covered 81 yards in 1:45 to score for the fourth time in five possessions. A 33-yard run by Tyler Simmons through a huge hole on the right side keyed the drive.
Jackson then capped it with an 11-yard scoring scurry to make it 28-7 8:36 before intermission.
Truex returned the following kickoff 44 yards to give AE good position at the Ada 40. Two plays later, the speedy Rettig rumbled 37 yards to the end zone around right end to halve the deficit at 28-14 with 7:40 left in the half.
Ada struck back quickly with a 77-yard drive. Konnor Baker hauled in a 12-yard pass to ignite the march, and Alex Weber then made a fine run for a 20-yard reception. Jackson then hooked uo with Jolliff on a 37-yard TD pass. The extra point kick was blocked to keep the lead 34-14 with 4:45 to go in the second stanza.
After the Ada defense stuffed AE, Jackson fumbled and AE took over at its own 39. Instead of running out the clock, they went for it on fourth down and Swaney was sacked at midfield with 30 seconds still left.
Baker hauled in an 18-yard aerial from Jackson, and then the Bulldogs pulled off a highlight play to head into the locker room with all the momentum. Jackson hit Baker with a pass near the 12, and he lateraled to Weber who took it the rest of the way to score with just 3.7 seconds to go in the half with a 41-14 bulge.
Another good kickoff return by Truex gave AE the ball at the 44 to start half two. Six Rettig runs and a fourth down and three encroachment penalty on the over-eager Ada defense got AE into scoring position. On fourth and nine, Swaney rolled left and lobbed a 13-yard TD pass to an open Rettig to make it 41-20 with 5:07 left in the third period.
A screen to Baker along the left sideline was sprung by a good Weber block, and the sophomore scampered 33 yards down the sideline. After a Sean Anderson sack of Jackson for a loss of 12, the Ada QB showed off his impressive blend of skill and athleticism.
Jackson slithered out of a likely sack, scrambled to his left and almost effortlessly flung a strong-armed spiral 34 yards to Austin Weber for another touchdown with 3:26 to go in the third quarter. Everhart's sixth PAT boot gave the hosts a commanding 48-20 cushion.
Mustang wideout Jordan Conrad hauled in a 47-yard pass on the next AE drive. But as the visitors appeared on the verge of scoring on fourth and 12 when a receiver broke open, Swaney's next pass hung up in the air and allowed the speedy Jackson to recover. The versatile senior intercepted the pass in the end zone to thwart the last Mustang scoring opportunity.
Ada then marched 80 yards to paydirt for the final score of the night. A 36-yard strike from Jackson to Jolliff ignited the drive. McBride then hauled in a Jackson pass and dove into the right pylon to score the final TD of the wet, cold night with 3:06 remaining.
Notes and stats
Jackson rushed for an unofficial total of 131 yards and four scores. He also threw unofficially for 321 yards and four TDs, and added one interception for good measure.
Rettig paced the AE offense with 144 yards rushing, and he scored two of their three TDs.
Fell is now 36-10 in his fourth season at Ada, and the Bulldogs are headed for a fourth straight playoff appearance. Ada has also won 23 of their past 25 games and 14 league games in a row over the last two seasons since a 2007 loss to LCC.
The Bulldogs have outscored the opposition by a combined total of 434-121 this season. Ada averages 54.3 ppg and allows 14.7.
The 'Dogs ranked fourth in the latest AP state Div. VI poll, and are rated third in the region 22 computer rankings behind second-place Carey and defending state champion Delphos St. John's (8-0).
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 21 20 7 7 55
AE 7 7 6 0 20
Ada visits Jefferson Fri.
The Bulldogs (6-0 NWC) face their biggest test so far this season in defense of their Northwest Conference title Friday night at Delphos Jefferson. The Wildcats (5-3, 4-2 NWC) lost to Sidney-Lehman 35-7 in a non-league matchup Friday.
Ada beat Jefferson in a close battle of unbeatens last season at War Memorial Stadium to clinch a tie for the NWC title. DJ routed the Bulldogs 41-7 in Mitchell Faine's second start two seasons ago at Delphos. LCC visits AE next Friday.
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