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Sunday, November 15, 2009

D-VI Regional Semifinals: Ada beats Carey, 14-7
Diamond Mine Direct
By jamie baker

staff Writer

Ada's defensive performance wasn't pretty on a stat sheet.

But it was a thing of beauty on the scoreboard Saturday afternoon at Donnell Stadium.

Ada's defense gave up a fourth-quarter touchdown to Carey on an 80-yard lateral, but that was it, as the Bulldogs advanced to the regional finals with a 14-7 Division VI, Region 22 semifinal victory over the Blue Devils.

Ada (12-0) will take on Delphos St. John's on Saturday at a site to be determined today by the OHSAA.

The Ada offense, led by quarterback Heath Jackson, has put up big numbers and grabbed the headlines all year.

But on an unseasonably warm and sunny mid-November afternoon it was an under-appreciated Bulldogs' defense that was the story.

Carey was able to roll up 335 yards rushing, but when push came to shove, the Bulldogs' defense always seemed to come up with a big play.

“The defense played outstanding. That goal line stand at the end of the half was the key to the ball game,” said Ada coach Mike Fell, whose Bulldogs reached the regional title game for the third straight year. “We were dead tired with a lot of kids going both ways. On a hot day like this it was a little different for them.”

With Ada up 14-0, Carey marched from its 10-yard line to Ada's three in 10 plays.

Carey's Logan Norden, who racked up 162 yards on 32 carries, was stopped an inch from the end zone on a third-and-goal from the 3. With the clock ticking down to end the first half, the Blue Devils quickly lined up again and the Bulldogs swarmed under Tyler Brodman's quarterback sneak try, keeping Carey out of the end zone.

The stop was a big mental boost for Ada, because they appeared to be beginning to wear down as the game wore on.

“We were really trying to push it toward the end of the second quarter. We wanted that half to go another six minutes and it could have been a different game,” said Carey coach Todd Worst. “We needed that touchdown at the end of the second quarter.”

It was the Ada defense that set up the first Ada score when Cory Mattson recovered the first of three Carey fumbles on the Blue Devils' second play from scrimmage.

Jackson took a keeper around left end for a 48-yard touchdown scamper just 53 seconds into the game.

Jackson, who has verbally committed to Bowling Green State University, set up the Bulldogs' second score with a 55-yard punt return to the Carey 20-yard line. On the next play, Konner Baker split a pair of Carey defenders in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown catch as Jackson was barely able to elude the grasp of Carey's 6-foot-7, 260-pound defensive end Michael Dennis.

Carey's offense certainly had its chances in the second half.

Ada's Tanner Craig stripped Brodman of the ball, which flew into the arms of defensive back Alex Weber, stopping Carey's first drive of the third quarter at Ada's 10.

Carey quarterback Bryce Orians, who entered the game after Brodman was hurt on a ferocious hit by Jackson, was sacked for a 10-yard loss on a fourth-and-7 play from Ada's 15 on the Blue Devils' next possession.

Carey was finally able to get on the board with 2:44 left in the game when Cy Strahm took a lateral from Orians and raced up the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown run.

“They held them to zero points until the last four minutes when they gave up one bad play,” said Fell. “I think we were just too tired to get out there and get it. But when they had to they stepped it up.”

The Blue Devils still had life with two minutes left.

They drove from their own 20 to Ada's 43, but Jackson picked off a double-pass from Cy Strahm to seal the deal.

“I knew that Heath Jackson was going to pick it off. I knew when it comes down to it that cat is going to make the play,” Fell said.

Give Carey's defense some credit, too.

The Blue Devils limited the talented Jackson to just 86 yards on 19 carries and 8-of-16 passing for 72 yards with two interceptions.

It was his lowest offensive output of the year and by far the least points scored by the Bulldogs, which made Saturday's loss all the more difficult to swallow for Carey.

“The kids played really hard and they did as well as anyone has against what they try to do,” Worst said. “Offensively, we needed to finish. We got down there a couple of times. Give them credit, they made plays. When they had to, they stopped us.”



Carey 0 0 0 7 -- 7

Ada 7 7 0 0 -- 14

First Quarter

ADA -- Jackson 48 run (Everhart kick)

Second Quarter

ADA -- Baker 20 pass from Jackson (Everhart kick)

Fourth Quarter

CAR -- Strahm 80 run (Strahm kick)

Carey Ada

First Downs 18 8

Rushes-yards 61-335 25-107

Passing Yards 39 72

Comp-Att-Int 3-5-1 8-16-2

Punts-Avg. 5-38.2 5-41.4

Fumbles-Lost 4-3 0-0

Penalties-Yards 7-58 4-20

individual statistics

rushing -- Carey, Norden 32-162, Jacoby 5-23, Brodman 13-81, Phoenix 5-2, Bra. Orians 1-4, Bry. Orians 4-3, Strahm 1-80. Ada, Jackson 19-86, Simmons 6-21.

passing -- Carey, Brodman 2-2-0-17; Orians 1-2-0-22; Strahm 0-1-1-0. Ada, Jackson 8-16-2-72.

receiving -- Carey, Phoenix 2-21, Strahm 1-8. Ada, McBride 1-6, Jolliff 1-3, Weber 4-36, Baker 2-27.

Baker: 419-422-5151,

Send an e-mail to Jamie Baker


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8 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Mother of 3 wrote:
Thank you A fan
“ Once again I am NOT saying Ada is a bad team or that Carey should have won the game without a doubt....I am just saying the officiating by the refs sucked! The refs were not calling face masks and holding calls on the Bull Dogs. The whole game that is what a bunch of us kept noticing. And if a player crosses the goal line. That IS a touchdown. The game would have been tied at the end if the refs called the game fairly. Then both teams would have given everyone a bigger better show battling off in overtime!

Good luck Ada against Delphos St. John, but unfortunately, I think there road will end there. I do not think Ada has what it takes to beat Delphos....of course they will put up a good fight, just as Carey would have...but I think whoever won wouldnt get past Delphos! ”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:15:19 PM
Baker wrote:
He didn't get in
“ I had the best view of the play of anyone in the entire stadium, standing right on the goal line on the Ada sideline.
The Blue Devils didn't get in on either play. ”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:05:28 PM
A fan wrote:
Ada/Carey Game
“ I was standing right by the goal line and Care did ABSOLUTELY cross the goal line twice in two plays and called down where he was tackled at the one-yard line. Either that ref was the worst ever or he had an agenda. If this so called picture from the Lima News guy captures the runner not across the line, then it must have been taken before he scored. I'm not a fan of either team really, but those 7 points would have been huge and the game would have been tied at the end of regulation. Horrible officiating on that play and I can't understand how the other refs wouldn't see that as well. ”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:09:08 AM
adam wrote:
ada
“ ADA baby booooo yaaaaa right on dogs ”
Monday, November 16, 2009 9:48:20 PM
FB fan wrote:
Carey/Ada game
“ First of all, a Lima News photographer has a pix of the goalline play at the end of the 1st half and it was definitely not a TD.

How can you blame the refs when you fumbled 4-5 times? And to say "if it wasn't for Jackson, Carey would have won the game." That may be true, but you can also say if Faine was playing it would have been an Ada blowout. Grow up and just accept the fact that Ada won the game and quit trying to make more out of it than it was ”
Monday, November 16, 2009 8:41:35 PM
Mother of 3 wrote:
poles1
“ Yes it was a great game!!! Didn't you notice the Carey crowd booing at the refs and yelling at the refs for not calling anything on Ada the 1st half. Also witnesses notice that Carey DID in deed cross the plain in the 2nd quarter to score a touchdown, but the refs said they did not. People I talked to sitting/standing on that end of the field said he crossed the line. Why was the touchdown not called? Why didn't any facemasks get called on Ada? Why were the refs not calling holding calls on Ada? Careys offense dominated. Yes....Jackson was a good player for Ada. He scored both touchdowns. If it was not for Jackson, I do not think that Ada would have won the game. Yes Carey did fumble, but we also intercepted the ball too. I still believe with a lot of other people, and by a lot I mean about 50 other people that the refs made some really really bad calls! ”
Monday, November 16, 2009 8:07:02 PM
poles1 wrote:
refs?
“ I was at the game and a Carey and football fan. Are the refs really to blame? Carey did commit three fumbles? Were hurt on a few big plays by Jackson and played one heck of a game. The problem was when it came time to score they didn't (just before half). The refs I heard were from NE and SE Ohio. I doubt they even heard of Carey or Ada prior to getting the game assignments. One heck of a game to put the blame on officiating. ”
Monday, November 16, 2009 7:23:34 PM
Mother of 3 wrote:
Refs
“ I must say this was a good game to watch. The only bad thing was the refs. I am not understanding why refs are always against the Carey football team!!! These are boys playing high school football. This is not the NFL. The refs basically gave this game to Ada by not calling facemasks and holding on the Ada football team. And are you crazy? How can you accidently throw a flag. The other ref must have talked the one who threw it into saying it was accidental. Also, Adas team loves to hit low in the knee area and do chop blocks and roll the players. Last i knew, that was illegal in the high school football rule book. Carey would have won that game if it was not for the refs making redicilous calls. Carey fans are used to that though cause it happens where ever they play...even on there home field. I want to congratulate the Carey High School Football team on a great season and I am sorry to see the refs against you young men who have the heart to take what it plays high school football. Good luck to Ada in there future games, and shame on you refs for not doing your job correctly....but for picking a side!! You refs should be ashamed of yourselves!!! Next time lets bring in refs for the playoffs from another state far away!!! Then lets make if fair for both teams to play there game fairly and without bad refs!!! ”
Monday, November 16, 2009 4:51:34 PM

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