By Cort Reynolds
It doesn’t get any easier for Ada High School football as they entertain a second consecutive speedy, unbeaten league foe in week six.
Traditional rival Bluffton visits War Memorial Stadium for a Northwest Conference battle Friday night, September 22. Warm, dry weather is the forecast.
The potent Pirates improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the NWC with a 56-0 blowout win over Spencerville last Friday.
The Pirates have outscored their opponents 231-28 this season. Bluffton leads the NWC in points scored per game (46.2), and is also first in least points allowed per contest (5.4.).
The Pirates have shut out their last three opponents after beating Pandora-Gilboa 28-21 in week two, their only close game this season thus far.
The Bulldogs have been outscored by their foes, 190-125. Ada is 1-1 at home this season, while Bluffton is 2-0 on the road.
“Bluffton is extremely talented and fast,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “We have to focus this week on our fundamentals if we want to get some stops on defense.
“They are very aggressive on defense so we will have to keep our heads up so we can pick up their stunts and aggressive backers,” he added.
The two rivals feature the top three rushers in the NWC. Pirate Landen Worcester has rushed for a league-leading 632 yards with 10 touchdowns so far this season. He ran for 171 yards and three TDs last Friday.
Ada senior back Jalee Bolden has netted 582 yards on 87 runs (6.7 avg. per carry) with nine touchdowns.
Ada junior quarterback Levi Green has rushed for 537 yards and six TDs on 91 carries (5.9 avg.). He has completed 35 of 70 passes for 449 yards.
Efficient Pirate QB Garret Bogart has completed 22 of 32 aerials for 470 yards and eight TDs with no interceptions.
Ada junior wideout Kaine Fisher leads the NWC in receptions with 24 catches for 297 yards this year. Pirate receiver Braeden Jordan tops the league in yards per catch (29.0) and has made four TD grabs.
Bluffton’s Gavin Bogart is a dual receiving and running threat, and has scored eight TDs this season. He ran for 72 yards and two scores last week.
Ada lost at Bluffton 31-7 last year, but the game was more competitive than the final score indicates.
The Bulldogs hung close through the first half, but a big-play Bluffton offense, a few questionable penalties and a Pirate goal line stand as time expired in the second period swung momentum their way.
In the Div. VII, Region 26 computer rankings, Ada is tied with Hardin Northern and Delphos Jefferson at 17th.
Leipsic climbed to fourth place in region 26 after their deceptive 55-24 win at the Bulldogs. Ada trailed only 28-24 in the third period.
Bluffton is ranked second in Div. VI, Region 22.
Ada has lost their last two games by a combined score of 102-33 to foes who are a combined 9-1. But the Bulldogs could be primed for a potential upset bid if they play like they did for the first three quarters against Leipsic, create turnovers - and if the unbeaten Pirates come in over-confident.
Ada’s overall opposition has authored a 17-8 record this season, including 14-6 in games not against the Bulldogs. Bluffton’s opponents are a combined 9-16.
Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
