By Levi Klingler
The Ada Bulldogs opened their 2012 football season Friday night at War Memorial Stadium with an impressive 55-0 non-conference win over the Hardin Northern Polar Bears. The win puts the Bulldogs at 1-0 for the season and the Bears at 0-1.
Click here for complete game stats. Check game photos at bottom of story.
The Bulldogs took the lead without delay, scoring within the first minute of play on a 23-yard run by senior running back Kellen Decker. Decker displayed quick feet and noteworthy agility, breaking several tackles on his first touchdown run. Hunter Waller would kick the extra point, putting Ada ahead 7-0.
Hardin Northern's first possession came to a short-lived, three-and-out conclusion at the hands of a hungry Bulldog defense. This set the pace for the rest of the game, as the Polar Bears would only move the ball 7 yards against Ada's defense by the end of the night.
Ada's second touchdown came on the first play of their next possession with an 80-yard carry by Decker. Decker showed outstanding athleticism once again, breaking 9 tackles on the way to the house. Waller put the ball through the uprights, making it a 14-0 lead.
Following Ada's second score, Waller booted an especially long kickoff into the end zone for a touchback.
Senior wide receiver Jacob Ansley would score next with 6 minutes to go in the first quarter on a pass from senior quarterback Mason Acheson, advancing the score to 21-0 following Waller's successful PAT.
Acheson connected with Matt Wilcox on a 33-yard pass to give Ada their fourth touchdown late in the first quarter. Waller's kick was good, putting the score at 28-0 at the end of the first quarter.
During Ada's fifth possession, after being penalized for holding on both a 41-yard touchdown run by Decker and a 20-yard catch by Ansley, Acheson connected with senior receiver Micah Roberson to get the 32 yards needed for the first down, setting the Bulldogs up in Polar Bear territory for their fifth score. Acheson threw a 14-yard pass to Roberson on fourth and 9 to advance the score by 6, followed by Waller's PAT, making it 35-0.
Decker ran for his third touchdown on the night with 4 minutes to go in the first half, busting it up the middle for a one yard gain to break the plane. Waller's kick would be good, putting Ada ahead 42-0 at the end of the first half.
Five minutes into the second half, Decker would score his fourth and final touchdown for the night on a 2-yard carry up the gut. Waller's PAT was good, making it 49-0, Ada.
Following their first offensive possession of the second half, Ada put in their second string players on offense and defense for the rest of the half. The Bulldogs would not score again until the fourth quarter. Senior running back Chris James ran the ball in on a 1-yard dive for the Bulldogs' eighth and final touchdown. The offense went for the two-point conversion, but would not get it, making the final score Ada 55, Hardin Northern 0.
Acheson led with a 12-for-15 passing performance for 235 yards and 3 touchdown passes. Decker rumbled for 185 yards on 14 carries with 4 touchdowns. Roberson had 97 yards on 4 receptions with a score, Wilcox had 84 yards on 4 catches with a score, and Ansley had 39 yards on 3 catches with a score.
Ansley led the Bulldogs defensively with a total of 11 tackles. Waller had a sack for a loss of 12 yards, and Eryck McNeal and Nick Collins each had a fumble recovery.
Ada enters Northwest Conference play next Friday, Aug. 31, at Spencerville. The Bearcats are 1-0, defeating Perry 63-7 in their non-conference game last Friday.
All photos by Todd Klingler
