Portland Locks Up 3rd Straight CAAC White Title
On a drizzly Friday night in Portland, the CAAC White Division Championship was being decided. For the third straight year, the Portland Raiders walked away with the CAAC White title.
Portland would put its defense out to start the game and forced Eaton Rapids’ offense to go three and out. Portland would take over the ball on their own 38 and put together a 4:59 second drive capped off with a Touchdown from (Sr) QB Austin Allison from one yard out. The Raiders would convert the two-point conversion with a pass from Allison to (Sr) SB Brock Gross.
This would start a common cycle of Eaton Rapids’ offense going three and out and Portland driving down to score. Eaton Rapids would only convert two first downs in the whole game. At the end of the first Quarter, Portland led eight to zero over Eaton Rapids.
Just five seconds into the second Quarter, Gross would score from three yards out. (Sr) FB Tim Thompson would convert on the two-point conversion putting Portland up 16-0. Portland’s swarming defense would force another Eaton Rapids punt leading to a 22-yard Touchdown by (Sr) SB Gavin Thelen. Thompson would convert on a two-point extra point run giving Portland a 24-0 lead with 8:14 left in the half. The swarming Raider defense forced another three and out followed quickly by a 13-yard TD run by (Sr) SB Devin Miller. (Jr) Cade Parmalee would convert on the extra point kick increasing the Raider lead to 31-0 going into the half.
The third Quarter would see no scoring with rain coming down for the rest of the game. In the fourth Allison would find (Jr) WR Hunter Hohman for a two-yard TD completion. Parmalee extra point was good completing the scoring for the game.
Thompson would lead all Raider rushers with seven carries for 50 yards. Gross finished with 10 carries for 40 yards and a TD. Allison was a perfect five for five for 96 yards and one TD along with a rushing TD. Five Raiders led the defense with five tackles on the game. (Sr) LB Dean Battley, Miller and Hohman each had five tackles while Hohman added a fumble recovery.
Coach John Novara said after the game, “I thought our kids prepared well and came ready to play tonight. I am proud of them for winning a league championship and continuing to improve each week. We have two tough teams remaining on our schedule, so we will get back to work on Monday.”
This Friday Portland (6-1) faces Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (5-1). The matchup could be interesting. Notre Dame Prep has not been scored on in the last 4 games.
