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| 11/8/2009 7:15:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Ada romps past Hornets in first round blowout
By Cort Reynolds
Ada Herald Writer
ADA - The beat just goes on for the wrecking machine better known as the undefeated Ada football team.
The Bulldogs raced to a 37-0 halftime bulge and trounced overmatched visiting Cory-Rawson 51-14 in first round Div. VI region 22 playoff action on a mildly pleasant early November Saturday evening.
With the blowout victory before a big crowd, Ada improved to 11-0 as they won for the 23rd time in the last 24 games. Cory finished its campaign 7-4.
The Bulldogs never were really threatened by the Hornets, although John Anderson broke a 23-yard run on their second play from scrimmage via a left side sweep. On fourth and three at the Ada 43, the Hornets went for it but standout Bulldog linebacker Aaron Weyer tripped up Anderson two yards short to stop their initial scoring threat.
On Ada's second possession, Heath Jackson gave a good shake then scampered 40 yards on a quarterback draw. Two plays later, Tyler Simmons scored the first of his three opening half touchdowns on a 10-yard run up the gut to cap a three-play, 58-yard drive that took just 44 seconds.
The PAT kick sailed wide left to keep the Ada lead 6-0 with 7:41 to go in the opening period.
Hornet junior Adam Rosendale then burst through the line on a quick hitter that gained 43 yards, and only a lunging tackle from behind by hustling defensive back Ty Jolliff saved a touchdown.
However two plays later Weyer hit C-R freshman QB Tyler Harris as he rolled left, causing a fumble that Bulldog Cody Mattson alertly recovered at the 14. The thwarted drive proved to be the last chance for Cory to stay in the game.
A 32-yard pass over the middle from Jackson to Alex Weber ignited the ensuing 86-yard, nine-play Ada march. An 18-yard aerial to Matt McBride moved the hosts to the Hornet 25. From there Jackson took over with two consecutive runs, the second of which was a 13-yard scoring scurry around right end. Cory senior linebacker Alex Barlekamp blocked the extra point boot to maintain the score at 12-0 with 3:23 to go in the first quarter.
The Bulldog defense quickly forced a three-and-out series and the hosts tallied again in just 36 seconds. A 41-yard pass to Weber set up a four-yard TD ramble by Simmons as the 'Dogs covered 56 yards in a mere four plays. Austin Everhart's PAT kick made it 19-0 Ada with 1:04 remaining in the first period.
The Bulldog defense again stuffed the Hornets to end the first period and Ada took over at the C-R 49. McBride nicely tipped Jackson's long heave to himself to haul in a 42-yard launch as he fell to the turf at the Cory four. On the next play, Jackson scored easily from four yards out to make it 25-0 with 11:15 left in the half.
The Hornets then put together a solid 55-yard drive ignited by Anderson, who sped 27 yards to the left on their most productive play of the possession. Yet on fourth and nine at the Ada 16, the march died when a short screen pass to Rosendale was denied. After a Hornet penalty, the Bulldogs took over on their own 27 and drove 73 yards to score for the fifth straight time in just six plays.
Weber snared a screen toss and weaved his way 42 yards upfield to wuikcly put the hornets on their heels. Konnor Baker followed with a fine 12-yard catch between two defenders over the middle. Shortly thereafter, Jackson tossed a 15-yard TD pass off his back foot to Simmons who took it into the right corner of the end zone for a 31-0 cushion with 5:34 still to go in the half.
Back on defense, McBride's hit in the backfield caused a fumble and an 11-yard loss to stymie the next Hornet possession. Ada took over near midfield and Jackson quickly scrambled 17 yards up the middle. McBride then made a nice catch along the sideline and eluded one tackler with a spin move to gain 29 yards.
An 11-yard screen pass to Weber got Ada to the Cory one, and Weyer scored on a one-yard plunge to make it 37-0 1:55 before intermission.
Hornet senior Austin Michel returned the opening kickoff of the second half 44 yards to the Ada 42. Harris passes of 13 yards to Barlekamp and 20 yards to Michel moved the visitors deep into Ada territory. On third and one, Anderson bulled into the end zone from three yards out for his 25th TD of the season to put the Hornets on the scoreboard down 37-7 at the 7:27 mark of the third stanza.
Ada quickly responded with a 70-yard, seven-play drive that ate up 3:08. A fine leaping catch by Jolliff amid double coverage netted 38 yards in the key play of the march. Freshman Kellen Decker got the ball near the goal line on a seven-yard run and then finished it off with a one-yard TD plunge to make it 44-7 with 4:12 to go in the third period.
A 10-yard sack by the ubiquitous Weyer thwarted the ensuing Hornet drive. Then a 46-yard middle screen to Weber jump-started the following 55-yard march to paydirt by the Bulldogs. Jackson capped the four-play drive that took just 87 seconds by weaving his way 11 yards to the end zone for a 51-7 margin at the 1:27 juncture of the third quarter.
Ada freshman Eli Roberson sacked the Cory punter after a mishandled snap, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the Hornet 20. But the 'Dog reserves came up just short on fourth down.
C-R then embarked on an 88-yard drive, led mainly by the running of Anderson. Ben Niese capped the long march on a 10-yard scoring run with 3:57 remaining in the game to finish the scoring.
Notes and stats
Jackson unofficially accounted for approximately 500 yards of total offense, running for 90 and passing for over 400 yards. Weber caught six passes for 180 yards, an average of 30 yards per catch. McBride hauled in four aerials for 94 yards.
The Bulldogs did not commit any turnovers.
Cory had just 35 players on its roster, and played without sophomore QB Jeremiah Alspach, who was hurt and lost for the season in a week seven 21-20 win over McComb. Ada also played without its own injured QB in all-state senior standout Mitchell Faine, who transferred from the C-R school system before his freshman year.
Anderson led the Hornet offense with 98 yards rushing. Cory was making its third all-time playoff showing, having been to the post-season previously in 2002-03.
Miami of Ohio quarterback Zac Dysert was on the Ada sidelines Saturday night, as was former ONU defensive back and Bulldog assistant coach Rusty Midlam.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 19 18 14 0 51
C-R 0 0 7 7 14
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