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| 10/24/2009 2:25:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Dogs beat the cats through the air, 33-6
BY JAMES COX
Brown Publishing Correspondent
DELPHOS - Almost everybody is aware that Ada's wide receiver-turned-quarterback Heath Jackson can beat you with his legs or his right arm. Friday night Delphos Jefferson wanted to make the Bowling Green-bound speedster win it with his arm - and Jackson did, to the tune of 33-6.
The win puts the Bulldogs at 9-0 overall and 7-0 in the Northwest Conference. Ada visits Lima Central Catholic (8-1, 7-0) next week to decide the NWC championship. That game will also determine where those two teams will be seeded in the playoffs. The Bulldogs went into the Jefferson game in third place in Division VI, Region 22. LCC was fourth in Division V, Region 18, going into Friday night's game with Allen East (a 41-0 LCC win). Delphos Jefferson is now 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the NWC.
Jefferson and Ada fought on even terms for the first 22 minutes, but the game turned in the last two minutes of the first half. The Dogs led 13-6, but the Cats had a third-and-goal from the Ada 1. However, the Bulldogs stuffed Mark McElroy and Mitchell Antalis on the next two plays, giving the ball to the visitors 99 yards away from pay dirt. Three plays later Ada's Konnor Baker got behind the Jeffcat defenders, caught a 50-yard bomb from Jackson, and out-ran a Delphos defender for a 99-yard score. It was 20-6, Ada, at the half, even though the Wildcats had held their own to that point - piling up 209 yards and nine first downs, compared to 274 yards and nine first downs by Ada.
The Cats went three-and-out on the first possession of the second half, whereupon the Dogs took charge. Ten plays later Jackson ran in from two yards out to up the margin to a decisive 26-6. The big play on that drive was a 34-yard completion from Jackson to Ty Jolliff.
After another Jefferson three-and-out, Ada scored again, this time on a nine-yard run by Tyler Simmons. Austin Everhart's PAT kick provided the final 33-6 margin.
The Wildcats put very little pressure on Jackson, choosing instead to cover Ada's receiving corps and hope for some misfires. The strategy worked well in the early going. Ada opened the game with a couple of first downs before Jefferson's Jacob Leach picked off a Jackson pass. Delphos went three-and-out, setting the stage for an 81-yard, eight-play Bulldog drive, which ended with a 20-yard TD pass, Jackson to Baker. Everhart's kick made it 7-0 with 7:12 left in the first period.
The Cats marched right down the field with Antalis and Curtis Miller doing the work. Antalis broke free for a 30-yard TD scamper to cut the lead to 7-6 with 4:32 left in the first quarter. The PAT kick was wide.
The Bulldogs followed that with an 11-play, 60-yard drive, capped off by an 11-yard toss into the end zone from Jackson to Alex Weber. The PAT kick was wide, leaving the score at 13-6 with 1:08 remaining in the first period. Jefferson started off the second period with an impressive drive of its own, but ran out of downs at the Ada 15. Jackson was promptly picked off again, this time by Ryan Ebbeskotte. The Wildcats' drive to the Ada 1 ensued, before the tide turned Ada's way for good.
Through the air Jackson ended up with 14 of 32 for 323 yards, three TD's and two interceptions. He also ran 17 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. Jefferson quarterback Jordan Jettinghoff was 15 of 27 for 146 yards with no interceptions. Antalis carried the ball 16 times for 75 yards and one TD.
Ada totalled 448 yards, 125 of which came on the ground. Jefferson gained 254 yards - 146 through the air and 108 on the ground. The Bulldogs had 16 first downs, the Wildcats 11.
Jackson became the Bulldogs' quarterback in Week 5 after all-stater Mitchell Faine went out with a knee injury. As a result, Jackson is one of very few players - maybe the only player - ever to be among the area leaders in receiving yards, passing yards and rushing yards in the same season.
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