By Cort Reynolds
Coming off of a 33-28 home win over Spencerville, the Ada High School football team goes on the road to face rugged Columbus Grove this coming Friday.
CG is 5-2 and 3-1 in the NWC after a 31-6 win at Crestview last Friday. Grove is ranked fourth in Div. VI, Region 22.
Ada (2-5, 1-3 NWC) is 0-2 on the road, while Grove is 4-0 at home. Their win over the Bearcats snapped a three-game losing skid.
CG has won two in a row after a 7-0 loss at Allen East, and has captured four of its last five contests.
"Columbus Grove is a very good football team," said Ada head coach Toby Smith. "It will take our best effort to compete well against them.
"We are proud of the kids and our win on Friday, but it is time to go back to work and attempt to improve," he continued. "Grove is very physical and aggressive."
CG running back Trenton Barraa leads the team with 91 yards rushing per game and four TDs. Zach Reynolds is the leading receiver at 53 ypg, and he also has grabbed four interceptions.
Grove quarterback Brenton Renner completes 55 percent of his passes.
CG averages 20.9 points per game, and gives up just 9.4 ppg. Their stingy defense has allowed just 19 total points over the last five games, including shutouts over Patrick Henry and Leipsic.
Ada scores 21.7 ppg and gives up 37.1 ppg. Bulldog junior back Jalee Bolden missed the Bearcat game with a knee injury suffered in week six vs. Delphos Jefferson. He may return at Grove after being re-evaluated later this week.
CG beat common Ada opponents Delphos Jefferson (38-6) and Leipsic (23-0). The Bulldogs lost to DJ 48-21, and fell to Leipsic 47-14.
Ada is 18th in the Div. VII, Regon 26 ratings. The top 16 teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.
