By Dusty Donley
A last second pass into the end zone from Ada quarterback Seth Conley was intercepted, sealing a 22-19 Spencerville victory over the visiting Bulldogs.
GAME STATS IN ATTACHMENT AT BOTTOM -
Conley threw for 370 yards in this tightly contested Northwest Conference battle, but a late Bearcat touchdown gave Spencerville a lead they would not relinquish. The loss drops Ada to 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in the NWC.
Solid defense kept both teams out of the end zone in the first quarter.
Spencerville was the only team to find pay dirt in the first half, when Dakota Pritchard hit Daniel Corso for a 19-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Damon Blair's extra point gave the Bearcats a 7-0 lead, which they would take into the halftime locker room.
The Bearcats added to their lead early in the third quarter when Calvin Wilson rumbled in from 6-yards away. Blair's point after kick pushed Spencerville's lead to 14 with just over 9 minutes to play in the third.
Conley and the Bulldog offense would come to life on the ensuing possession when the junior gunslinger connected with Aaron Everhart for a 6-yard score. Everhart's extra point cut the Bearcat lead to 14-7.
After menacing defense kept the Spencerville offense at bay, Conley struck again, this time hitting his favorite target, junior wideout Chase Sumner for a 27-yard touchdown. Everhart's point after kick was blocked, leaving the Bulldogs still trailing by one, 14-13.
Strong defense once again thwarted Pritchard and the Bearcat offense, giving the ball right back to the red hot Bulldog aerial attack. Two plays later, Conley found a wide open Jordan Bailey, who raced 62-yards to the house, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game. Conley's two-point conversion throw was incomplete, leaving the score 19-14 with just under seven minutes to play in the game.
Feeling the game slipping away, the Spencerville offense regrouped and rallied behind their bruising running game. Led by workhorse running back Chris Picker, the Bearcats marched 80 yards, eating 5:56 off the clock. With exactly one minute remaining in the game, Picker plunged in from 3-yards out, once again giving the Bearcats the lead. Picker then converted a 2-point conversion run, moving Spencerville ahead by 3, 22-19.
The Bulldogs made one last valiant attempt, moving down to the Spencerville 28 yard line with three seconds to play, but Conley's throw into the end zone was intercepted by Cody Dickson to end the Bulldog rally and the game.
The Bulldogs out gained Spencerville in total offense, 378 yards to 331, but the Bearcats crushed the Dogs on the ground, rumbling for 256 yards to Ada's 8.
Bulldog quarterback Seth Conley went 31 of 59 for 370 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Chase Sumner led the receivers with 9 grabs for 114 yards and a score. Jordan Bailey added 8 receptions for 105 yards and a score.
Ada continues their road trip next Friday night as they travel to Columbus Grove (2-2, 0-1) to take on the Bulldogs. Grove is coming off a 28-25 Northwest Conference loss to Crestview. The loser of this game will be 0-2 in the conference, and will have a very slim chance to get back into the NWC title picture. Game time is 7:30.
