By Cort Reynolds
ADA - After a 2-1 non-league start, Bluffton journeys to Ada Friday night to face a Bulldog squad coming off of its first victory in a critical Northwest Conference opener.
The Pirates defeated winless Defiance Ayersville 35-14 in week three. Ada is 1-2 after thumping USV 45-14 Satuday night in a game delayed a day by bad weather.
The Bulldogs lost to tough MAC foe New Bremen 51-21 in their opener, then fell in week two at Arlington 26-12. But they are quickly improving on defense, and feature several dangerous threats on offense.
This season, versatile Ada junior quarterback Brandon Hull has completed 60 of 90 passes (67 percent accuracy) for 721 yards with five TDs and two interceptions. He has also netted 235 yards rushing on 31 carries (7.6 avg.) with two TDs.
Ada sophomore back Keagan Hull has netted 217 yards rushing through three games on 17 tries (12.8 avg.) and two scores. He ran for a career-best 163 yards at USV.
Junior wideout Zac Swaney has caught 21 passes for 272 yards (13.0 avg.) and two TDs so far this year. Freshman Will McBride has 16 catches for 230 yards (14.4 avg.) and one TD. Senior Phil Coulson has made 15 receptions for 83 yards (5.5 avg.).
Bluffton (1-0 on road, 1-1 home) beat visiting Cory-Rawson 42-26 in its opener, but then lost to Pandora-Gilboa 27-9 in their first meeting since 1965.
Ada second-year head coach/defensive coordinator Shawn Christopher knows his team will have to prepare well for the old-school Pirate running offense, but in a veer format.
"Bluffton is very methodical," said Christopher. "They run the veer option, and they have learned to run it very well. Their offensive line gets to the second level well. They run the ball well."
Sophomore quarterback Nate Schaadt also has dangerous weapons at his disposal when he does make the rare aerial attack. The second-year starter is a very capable runner as well.
Schaadt threw just four passes at Ayersville, completing two. But both went for long touchdowns of 38 yards (to Baylor Garmatter) and 80 yards to big-play maker Tyson Shutler, a 6-0 junior.
Senior 220-pound workhorse fullback Tucker Neff rushed for 181 yards last week vs. the Pilots. "The fullback Neff is a nice player," said Christopher.
"But Shutler is a good runner with speed and game-breaking ability," he continued. "He definitely has the speed to break the big runs, so we have to try and contain him. They do not throw the ball much."
Garmatter also ran for 84 yards and Schaadt added 42 yards on the ground vs. Ayersville, where 329 of their 447 total yards came via the ground.
The game was tied 14-14 after one quarter at Ayersville. But the Pirates shut the host Pilots out over the final three periods and scored one TD in each of the remaining stanzas to pull away and win convincingly.
Ada (0-1 home) moved up from 22nd to 15th in the Div. VI, Region 23 computer ratings after its win at USV. Bluffton ranks 12th in Region 23 of Div. VI.
The Bulldogs have been outscored by their opposition 91-78 this season. Bluffton has out-pointed its three foes, 86-67.
"Defensively, Bluffton will bring pressure and try to get the ball out of Brandon's hands," warned Christopher. "They are a pressure-based defense, and they will bring five every time. So we have to work on protecting the quarterback.
"Bluffton has an athletic defensive line so we will have to shore up our protection," he added.
Junior defensive lineman Bryan Basinger led the Pirates with a sack and four tackles for loss at Ayersville.
The Pirates beat the Bulldogs 43-14 in week nine last year, yet Ada has captured 10 of their last 12 meetings.
Bluffton rolled up 433 yards rushing at home in 2018 vs. Ada as they ran to a 28-0 halftime lead. Schaadt rushed for three TDs and 123 yards while Neff netted 102 yards on the ground last year. Shutler added 72 yards rushing.
Replacement QB Coulson rushed for 114 yards with one TD, and threw for 88 yards last year at Bluffton.
The Bulldogs beat the Pirates 42-17 two years ago at War Memorial Stadium. In 2016, Ada won easily at Bluffton by a 38-14 count. Bluffton ended an eight-game losing streak to the Bulldogs with a 27-21 win in 2015 at Ada.
"When it comes down to it I look at it in this sense - if we do what we need to do and play a good game, that is all we can control," said Christopher.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.
