Bulldog football defeats Elmwood Royals

By Cort Reynolds

BLOOMDALE __ Friday the 13th was not an unlucky day for the Ada High School football team, but it was for winless Elmwood. The Bulldogs ran away from the Royals in the second half to post a 43-14 win in their first Blanchard Valley Conference meeting Friday night.

Ada led 15-8 at the half, but rode a 21-point fourth period to win convincingly as they outscored the Royals 28-6 after intermission.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the BVC after recording their first-ever win in a new league. The struggling Royals fell to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in BVC play with the defeat.

“The kids executed the adjustments we made very well,” said Ada head coach Toby Smith. “We saw some things throughout the game we thought we could take advantage of and broke through.

“Throughout the first half they were playing us in a manner that caused us to make a few blocking adjustments,” he continued. “Once we made those and were able to break through on the scoreboard, they loosened up” (on defense).

Neither team scored in the first quarter.

Ada drew first blood in the second stanza and converted a two-pointer to lead 8-0, and never trailed. Quarterback Levi Green connected with Kayleb Hickman at the 38 and he ran the pigskin the rest of the way to paydirt to complete a 55-yard TD pass.

Green tallied the two-point conversion on a run to put the Bulldogs ahead 8-0 with 8:45 left in the second period.

Royal back Andrew Traxler found the end zone on a four-yard run in the second quarter. Owen Traxler’s two-point pass tied it up 8-8 with just 1:22 left in the half.

But Ada drove quickly after the ensuing kickoff and scored on the last play of the half to regain the lead and momentum. 

Green hooked up with senior Kaine Fisher on a clutch 34-yard touchdown pass as time expired to break the tie. The first of five successful extra point kicks by Andrew Allen gave Ada a 15-8 halftime edge.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 22-8 after the third period. They then blew the contest open with 21 points in the final stanza.

Green scored on a 73-yard run with 2:46 left in the third quarter to make it 21-8. Allen’s PAT put the Bulldogs up by 14 heading to the final period.

Fisher rambled 13 yards to the end zone just 92 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Ada more breathing room and a 29-8 cushion.

Shortly thereafter, Fisher hit paydirt again on a 57-yard run with 8:18 remaining. Allen’s PAT kick made it 36-8.

Royal back Andrew Traxler found the end zone on an eight-yard run with 5:50 left to play. The extra point missed, keeping Ada in front 36-14.

Bulldog sophomore Blake Zoladz then scored the final TD on a 28-yard scramble with 1:58 left. Allen’s last PAT boot finished the scoring to provide the final margin of 29.

Notes, quotes and stats

Ada netted 394 yards on 47 plays, an average gain of 8.4 yards per snap. Elmwood managed 240 yards on 55 plays (4.4 avg.). 

The Bulldogs netted 250 rushing yards on 30 carries (8.3 avg.) added 144 yards through the air. Elmwood netted 126 yards aerially, and netted 114 yards on the ground via 33 rushes (3.5 avg.).

Green ran the ball 14 times for a team-high 144 yards and one TD. Just over half of his yards came on a 73-yard scoring scurry. He also completed an efficient 12 of 17 passes for 144 yards and a pair of TDs with no interceptions. 

Green accounted for 288 total yards in offense. 

Fisher rushed 13 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. His longest run went for 57 yards. He also caught two passes for 52 yards and one TD to compile 133 yards in total offense.

Blake Zoladz contributed two runs for 28 yards, including a TD.

Hickman snared six aerials for 76 yards and one big score. Trevor McGue added two receptions for 16 yards.

Hickman added an interception, while Zack Zimmerman authored a solo sack.

“We are proud of the kids for responding well after last week’s tough game,” said Smith, referring to a 44-43 loss to Arlington on the last play of a heartbreaking thriller. 

Royal QB Owen Traxler completed 11 of 22 passes for 126 yards with one interception. He also rushed nine times for 38 yards. Andrew Traxler netted 57 yards running on 15 carries, including both Elmwood TDs, but lost a fumble.

Marcus Mossbarger caught four aerials for 46 yards to pace the Royal receivers.

Ada committed no turnovers and was penalized four times for 36 yards. Elmwood was flagged times for 30 yards and was guilty of two turnovers.

Bulldogs host McComb in week 5

Ada returns home to host McComb in a key Blanchard Valley Conference contest Friday, Sept. 20.

The Panthers improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in BVC play with a home blowout win over 0-4 Arcadia in week four by a 48-0 margin. McComb beat Crestview 31-14 in week two, but lost to BVC power Liberty-Benton the next week 31-6.

“We will celebrate the win over Elmwood tonight and then try to get ready for McComb,” said Smith.

Ada scores 35.8 ppg and gives up 18 ppg through four games with one shutout. McComb averages 26.3 ppg and allows 14 ppg.

The Panthers are 1-0 on the road, while the Bulldogs are 1-1 at home and 2-0 on the road.

Ada came into the Elmwood game tied for seventh with rival USV in the Div. 7, Region 26 computer ratings. After the win over the Royals, in the preliminary rankings late Friday night they moved up to sixth, with McComb rated ninth.