By Cort Reynolds
Host Crestview used a powerfully balanced offense and stingy defense to defeat the Ada High School football team 47-9 in the Northwest Conference opener Friday night, September 8, in Convoy.
The Knights raced to a 35-3 lead at halftime behind a 21-0 second period, and rolled to victory.
Ada fell to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the NWC after dropping the league lidlifter.
The Knights improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the convincing win.
Intense Crestview rode a potent ground game to roll up just over 500 yards in total offense. The balanced Knights rushed for 323 yards and passed for 180 yards.
The tough Crestview defense limited the Bulldogs to 35 passing yards and 158 in total offense. Ada came into the game averaging 30.7 points per game but was held 15 points below their previous lowest output of 24 points in a win over USV.
“Give Crestview credit,” said Ada third-year head coach Toby Smith. “They physically dominated the game. We needed to answer their physical play, and it was tough to do because of how hard they played.
“They are a good football team and deserved to win,” he added.
Crestview jumped in front 6-0 early on a 33-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback Bryson Penix to senior wideout Kellin Putman. Hayden Perrott booted the extra point to make it 7-0.
Penix then connected with senior tight end Beau Eggleston for another touchdown, and Perrott’s second PAT made it 14-0.
The Bulldogs got on the board with a 30-yard field goal by junior Logan Jolliff to pull within 14-3 after the opening stanza.
Crestview then seized control with a 21-0 second period run. Senior Jaret Harting found paydirt with a 49-yard TD run.
Harting then hauled in a 28-yard TD aerial from Penix, with the point after boot making it 28-3.
Knight sophomore running back Braxton Leeth then found paydirt on an eight-yard scoring jaunt to advance the lead to 35-3 at the half.
Ada senior back Jalee Bolden opened the second half with a 15-yard TD run to cut the deficit to 35-9. But that was as close as Ada would get.
Crestview tacked on two more TDs to provide the final margin of 38 points.
Harting found paydirt on a 30-yard scoring run to extend the margin to 41-9 after three quarters.
Knight junior Isiaah Barton scored the last TD on a 21-yard run in the fourth stanza.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 3 0 6 0 9
Cvw 14 21 6 6 47
Notes and stats
Crestview amassed 22 first downs compared to 12 chain-movers by Ada.
The Bulldogs compiled 158 yards in total offense on 50 plays, compared to 503 yards on 39 plays by the host Knights.
Crestview averaged 12.9 yards per play, while the Bulldogs averaged 3.2 yards per snap.
Ada QB Levi Green completed four of 12 passes for 35 yards, with no scores and two interceptions.
Bolden rushed for 90 yards and the only Ada TD on 17 carries (5.3 avg.). Green added 25 yards on 18 rushes. The Bulldogs netted 138 ground yards on 38 tries.
Fisher snared three aerials for 25 yards. Max Puerto added one reception for 10 yards.
Penix completed 12 of 17 passes for 180 yards and three TDs with one interception. He also rushed four times for 24 yards.
The Knights racked up 323 yards rushing on 22 carries (14.7 avg.). Harting rushed five times for 113 yards and two TDs. Isaac Kline netted 102 yards on just five carries. Barton added 21 yards and one TD on his lone run.
Putman grabbed three passes for 61 yards and one TD. Harting hauled in three receptions for 52 yards and a score. Eggleston snared five aerials for 41 yards and one TD. Leeth added one catch for 26 yards.
The Bulldogs committed three penalties for 20 yards, while the Knights were flagged six times for 65 yards.
Ada converted three of 15 third down tries, while the Knights were successful on one of three attempts on third down. Both teams were 0-1 on fourth down.
The Bulldogs won in time of possession, 24:05 to 15:44. Both teams committed two turnovers.
Bulldog Zack Zimmerman intercepted a pass. Kayleb Hickman and Ian House both made three tackles.
Ada hosts unbeaten Vikings in week 5
Ada returns home after a month's absence to face undefeated Leipsic in a key Northwest Conference week five game next Friday.
It will be the first home game for the Bulldogs since beating USV 24-22 in the season-opener.
The Vikings improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with a 21-0 home win over defending league champion Allen East Friday.
The Vikings have outscored their first four opponents 115-33 this season. The Bulldogs have been outscored by their foes 135-101.
Ada lost at Leipsic 47-14 last year.
Leipsic is ranked sixth in the unofficial Div. II, Region 26 computer rankings, while Ada dropped from ninth to 13th.
Crestview moved up to seventh.
