Story and photos by Cort Reynolds
A brand new synthetic playing surface and a new head coach hope to infuse new excitement into the Ada football program after the 2020 season came to an unprecedented and premature end.
Experienced gridiron mentor Toby Smith was hired last December amd tasked to rebuild the Bulldog progam after a three-year 4-19 slide. In the previous 12 seasons, Ada had made the post-season 11 times.
"We only have five seniors on our roster to rely on," said Smith. "We are trying to breed a culture of success.
"There is a history of success at Ada, and we want to bring that back," he said upon his hiring.
Ada started out 0-3 last fall before controversially pulling the plug on its campaign. Key player defections and a head coach resignation, along with low roster numbers, helped force the proud program to end its season early.
Ada suffered road losses to league powers Allen East and Columbus Grove to start 2020, then fell in a 48-46 shootout at home to Bluffton.
Twelve letterman return to the Ada program this fall to help restore Bulldog pride.
Ada will looks to run the ball more than in the recent past this season to take advantage of a strong line, control the ball and to milk the clock. But Smith says they will also throw the ball.
"Teams will stack the box against us so we will have to be able to throw too," he said.
Smith says Ada will run a more traditional shotgun version of the spread offense in 2021. "They ran more of an air-raid spread in the past," he noted.
Powerfully built senior Kadin Phipps will start at quarterback. The stocky Phipps is a strong runner. "Kadin has some experience as a senior, and we are excited about the athleticism he brings to the table," said Smith.
Shifty freshman Levi Green will serve as the backup quarterback while also seeing time at receiver. The lithe Green is an athletic runner.
Sophomore Jalee Bolden is a strong and promising running back. Versatile junior Casen Jones is the other featured back.
"We are excited about Bolden and Jones, but they are very inexperienced," said the coach.
Freshman Kaine Fisher will also see action toting the pigskin, as may classmate Max Puerto.
A powerful, experienced and big offensive line looks to be the strength of the squad. Four of the five linemen are returning starters.
"Our line absolutely has to be the strength of our team for us to be successful," said Smith. "We will rely on the offensive line to move the football."
Senior letterman Carter Nelson (6-4, 310 lbs.) is back to anchor the offensive line at center. Experienced senior Brandon Paul (5-10, 250) mans one tackle spot, along with junior tackle Lester Amos (6-3, 255).
Junior Gage Hoffer (6-2, 280) and junior Grant Preston will handle the guard positions. Preston joins the team from soccer.
Junior letterman Ayden East will also see action on the line and provide quality depth.
Junior Kyle Mattson will serve as the slot receiver. Senior Seth Nevers, junior Levi Sousley, Fisher and possibly Green will be the wide receivers. Sophomore Alden Boulanger will also see action as a blocker/receiver.
"On defense we will run out of a basic 4-3 hybrid formation," said Smith. "But we will modify that depending on what teams we are playing against."
Sophomore Julian Grose and Mattson will man the defensive end spots. Hoffer, Nelson, Preston and Amos should anchor the defensive tackle positions.
The linebacker corps includes senior Jermey Cameron, Boulanger and Jones.
The secondary will be comprised of Sousley, Green, Fisher, freshman Rowan West and Nevers.
As for special teams, freshman Puerto is expected to handle the punt and place-kicking duties. Sousley and Fisher are slated to be the top kickoff returners, with Jones serving as the main punt returner.
Jones will also be the holder on kicks. Boulanger is the short snapper, and Amos is penciled in as the long snapper.
"We have to compete every day and learn how to handle adversity," said Smith of team goals. "We need to learn how to compete, and the results will take care of themselves.
"It's basically a new team and we have to look at and evaluate them all," he continued. "As far as the NWC, I have no idea who is the favorite and where Ada might finish. I am concerned with ourselves. We will have to be at our best to be able to compete."
Ada starts the season with three non-league road games at Waynesfield-Goshen, Arlington and Hardin Northern.
The Bulldogs christen the new field at home September 10 vs. new NWC member Leipsic. They then host traditional rival Bluffton in week five.
"It is a beautiful field and an opportunity to play on a great home field on Friday nights," said Smith.
The regular season finale is at home Oct. 22 vs. backyard rival and defending league runner-up Allen East.
Columbus Grove beat AE in the revamped first-ever NWC tournament necessitated by covid in 2020.
Veteran Frank Stid, holdover Sean Anderson, Michael Allen, Andrell Roberts and Ryan Ormsbee comprise the assistant coaching staff in support of Smith.
This year the playoffs have doubled to 16 teams per region, with higher seeds hosting the first and second round games. Ada is one of 27 teams in Div. VII, Region 26.
A native of Connecticut, Smith is a 1993 graduate of Wittenberg University, where he received a bachelor's degree in health and physical education.
Smith was a coach and teacher at West Liberty Salem Schools from 1995-2013. He served as head football coach at WLS from 1999-2012, compiling a 111-40 record during that span. His teams made nine playoff appearances at WLS out of the Ohio Heritage Conference in Divisions V and VI.
He then taught and was head coach at Bellefontaine from 2012-19, where his teams amassed a 46-27 record in seven seasons. Smith led Div. III Bellefontaine to four Central Buckeye Conference titles and two playoff showings in his tenure.
"I think it will take a lot of rolling up the sleeves, doing the work and developing relationships with the kids," said Smith when asked what needs to be done to resuscitate the program.
"Both programs I took over were struggling before I got there and we left them in much better shape when I left," he noted.
Ada football 2021 at a glance: Div. VII, Region 26
2020 record: 0-3, 0-3 NWC
Head coach: Toby Smith, 1st year
Roster numbers: 31
Lettermen back: 12
Top offensive players back: Sr. Carter Nelson, Sr. Brandon Paul, Jr. Gage Hoffer, Jr. Lester Amos.
Top defenders back: DL Carter Nelson, DL Brandon Paul, DL Gage Hoffer, DT Lester Amos, LB Jermey Cameron.
Strength: Offensive line.
