By Delano Whidbee

It was a perfect Friday night homecoming football contest for the Northwest Conference as 1-3 Bluffton host 1-3 Ada and both teams put on a gun show. 

Unfortunately Bluffton could not hold on as Ada takes a 42-41 victory in the last seconds of the game.

After a scoreless 1st quarter, Pirate's Mitchell Ault completed a 25-yard pass to receiver Robbie Stratton for a touchdown. Point after kick by Dylan Alt was good Bluffton was in control 7-0. 

Ada’s quarterback fired back with a 46-yard touchdown bomb of his own. Point after kick was good to tie the game 7-7.

But Ault returned fire with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Stratton. Point after kick by Alt was good regaining the lead 14-7. With the half coming to an end, Ada’s quarterback threw his second touchdown of the game. Point after kick was good tying the game once again 14-14.

The Pirates put up three scores in the 3rd quarter; Ault ran for 2 touchdowns and used his cannon for the third touchdown connecting with Sam Crisp for 52 yards. 

Heading into the 4th quarter Bluffton was in the lead 35-14. Ada opened the 4th quarter scoring an impressive 4 times, putting them ahead of BHS 42-35 with 3 minutes left in the game.

Ault Marched his team down the field and finally hit Austin Bricker on a 2 yard pass for the score 42-41 with 22 seconds left Bluffton trail by 1. Bluffton needed to make the extra point to tie the game but Ada’s defense had other plans coming off the edges  they were able to block the extra point of Alt to keep the lead 42-41 and earn the win.

The junior quarterback Mitchell Ault completed 32 of 52 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns.  Ault was also the leading rusher with 12 carries for 51 yards and two scores. 

Senior wide receiver/Defensive back Austin Bricker had a record breaking night with 15 catches for 184 yards and 1 touchdown. Robbie Stratton assisted the offense with 10 catches for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Because of Ada’s passing attack, the defensive backs led the way for Bluffton’s defense.  Dustin Falk lead the way with 6 tackles, followed by Robbie Stratton, Dylan Alt, and Clay Wilson who all had 5 tackles.

Bluffton Pirates falls to 1-4 on the season, and 0-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates travel to Allen East Mustangs on Friday.