jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com

ADA — Ada was looking to go into next Friday’s home game versus Lima Central Catholic at least tied with the Thunderbirds atop the Northwest Conference with 7-0 marks and 9-0 overall records.
Jefferson wanted to keep that from happening Friday night on a soggy War Memorial Stadium field in Ada but too many mistakes — 10 penalties for 81 yards chief among them — cost them in a 17-0 loss.
“We had our chances and opportunities but those mistakes hurt us; we shot ourselves in the foot too many times,” Jefferson coach Bub Lindeman noted. “I felt we played well, especially defensively; we had the game plan to stop (Kellen) Decker and we did that. We felt we could handle their short passing game and maybe force them to throw deep. We did that, too; we just hurt ourselves too many times in crucial situations.”
Jefferson (6-3, 4-3 NWC) held on its first defensive series and gained a first down on their drive. However, with the first half featuring a steady light rain and thus a slippery ball, an interception by Micah Roberson of junior quarterback Austin Jettinghoff (3-of-13 passing, 104 yards) at midfield set up the Bulldogs for a 9-play scoring drive. With Jefferson focused on 1,300-plus-yard rusher Kellen Decker (20 totes, 84 yards), Ada head man Micah Fell turned to Mason Acheson (19-of-30 passing, 261 yards). At the Delphos 11, Decker used his receiving prowess to get into the end zone, grabbing a screen pass on the left side. The defense had him hemmed in but he kept his feet moving, slid through defenders and emerged into the end zone. Hunter Waller made it 7-0 at 6:18 of the first period.