By Cort Reynolds
McGUFFEY __ The visiting Ada High School football team rallied to score 15 second half points and avoid an upset bid by Upper Scioto Valley in the 2024 season opener on August 23, by a score of 15-14.
Senior quarterback Levi Green converted a clutch 45-yard touchdown run in the final 90 seconds to tie the contest. Ada took the lead for good on Andrew Allen’s critical extra point kick, then clinched the game with an interception.
The Bulldogs start out 1-0 after beating the Rams for a second year in a row in the non-league rivalry lidlifter. Hard-luck USV opens 0-1.
“We are proud of our kids and how they kept fighting,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “USV is a good football team, and is well-coached. We feel very fortunate to come away with a win.”
Neither team could muster much offense early on. Ada came out flat while USV slowed the tempo on offense and took its time running plays, milking the clock to effectively shorten the game.
Penalties plagued the Bulldogs throughout the first half, helping thwart their possessions.
USV threatened on its second drive. On third and four, dual threat senior quarterback Maddox Underwood connected with Mason Thompson on a short aerial along the left sideline. Senior Thompson slipped a tackle and rumbled down the Bulldog sideline for a 40-yard gain to the Ada 26.
But a 15-yard penalty helped stymie the march. On fourth and six, Bulldog sophomore Kolton Dysert burst through the line and sacked Underwood to force a turnover on downs.
An eight-yard screen to Kayleb Hickman earned the initial Bulldog first down. Levi Green ran for seven yards, but on third down he was stacked up for a short loss by Ryan Roberts, forcing an Ada punt.
The Rams took over at their own 15 and marched 85 yards to paydirt. Underwood started the drive with an 11-yard run, and the first period ended with the game still scoreless.
On third and eight a long Roberts halfback aerial was broken up, but pass interference gave USV first down and 15 yards.
On second down Underwood tossed a screen to Roberts, who reversed field and scurried 11 yards. Roberts then fought his way for an eight-yard gain.
A four-yard run by Thompson moved the chains. Dysert sniffed out a middle screen and made a nice stop for a loss to force third and 14. But then an open Roberts caught a right side Underwood toss and rambled 33 yards to the Ada two.
Two plays later, the Ram junior back scored on a two-yard run to cap the 13-play drive with 6:37 left in the half. Underwood then rolled right and hit a diving Beau Sanders open in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
Bulldog Cobe Harris recovered an on-sides kickoff at the Ram 49, giving Ada good field position. But they were unable to capitalize on it. The Bulldogs appeared to gain some momentum on a 16-yard sideline out from Green to Hickman, but it was negated by holding.
On third and 21, Ada got a reprieve when a high lob to Hickman resulted in Ram pass interference, good for 15 yards and a first down. But a holding penalty caused third and 16. An inside screen to Hickman gained seven, yet a dead ball personal foul flag after the play cost the Bulldogs 15 yards and necessitated another punt.
USV took over at its own 44 after a short punt when the snap was briefly dropped.
On fourth and short, Ada jumped offside to give the Rams first down at the Bulldog 42 with 57 seconds to go. A long pass was incomplete, followed by a nice pass break-up from the feisty Green.
Roberts then made a nice one-handed grab of a pass over the middle for a gain of 14 yards. Underwood was sacked and fumbled but recovered his own loose pigskin to bring up third and long with 12 seconds yet to go in the half.
A dropped pass brought up fourth and 18 on the last play of the half. Underwood’s long aerial was broken up just inside the 10 as the second quarter expired.
Ada got on the scoreboard in the third period when Green sped 64 yards to paydirt. Senior back Kaine Fisher ran in the two-point conversion to tie the contest at 8-8.
Underwood put USV back on top as he scampered 35 yards to paydirt with six minutes left in the third period. The two-point conversion failed, keeping the Ram lead at 14-8.
Ada drove to the Ram eight but turned the ball over on downs in the final minutes.
After a big stop, the Bulldogs took over with their last chance near midfield with 1:34 remaining. Green then tied the game with his second long TD run. Sophomore Allen put Ada ahead for the first time 15-14 by converting a crucial point after kick with 1:14 left to play.
Upper returned the ensuing kickoff to their 35-yard line. But Bulldog junior Zack Zimmerman came up with an interception at the 40 to seal the verdict.
“The kids did a nice job of executing the halftime adjustments we asked of them,” said Smith. “Just some little blocking adjustments.”
Ada hosts non-league foe Buckeye Central (0-1) Friday, August 30 in the home opener. The BC Bucks lost 44-27 to visiting Crestline in their opener Friday.
USV hosts Cory-Rawson (1-0) next Friday in their NWCC lidlifter. C-R beat visiting Arcadia 29-22 in week one.
