Portland Smothers Marshall 27-0
In a defensive battle on Friday night, only one team could get their offense going. Portland’s defense was dominant and smothered the Marshall offense. The Raider Defense held the Redhawk offense to 112 total yards offense. The defense forced three turnovers and a safety.
To start the game off, Portland would get a big kickoff return from (Sr) KR Brock Gross returning it to the Marshall 40-yard line. Though Portland would fail to convert on the great field position against the tough Marshall defense. Portland punted but would get the ball back after (Sr) CB Landon Kehr made an excellent play by undercutting the Marshall WR’s route setting Portland up with great field position on the Marshall two-yard line. (Sr) SB Gavin Thelen would score from two yards out. (Sr) K Tate Dziewiatkowski came on for the extra point attempt but the snap was low and Gross tried to run it in but was stopped short. With 8:39 left in the 1st Quarter, Portland led 6-0.
In the 2nd Quarter, both teams would trade possessions as both defenses would hold the upper hand for much of the Quarter. With 2:16 left in the half (Sr) QB Austin Allison would find (Sr) WR Gavin Dennany for a 53-yard touchdown. Portland would line up to go for the two-point conversion but the pass from Allison to (Sr) SB Devin Miller went incomplete. Going into halftime, Portland would lead Marshall 12-0.
In the 2nd Half the Raider Defense would force two more turnovers in the 3rd Quarter. On 4th down (Jr) S Cade Parmalee would intercept a pass from Marshall (Sr) QB Wyatt Crow. Once again both defenses would force an exchange of possessions. At the end of the 3rd Quarter, Portland led 12-0.
The Raider defense again would assert them self in the 4th Quarter. On 3rd and 15, from the Redhawk 44, Crow would be flushed from the pocket and chased down from behind by (Jr) DT Owen Guilford forcing a fumble. The fumble was recovered by (Sr) S Travis Costello. With 10:28 left in the game, Allison would hit Gross for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Portland would go for two again but Gross would be stopped after a short pass from Allison putting Portland up 18-0.
On 3rd and 30, the Portland Defense would force a safety after a bad snap. Crow scrambled to the end zone and illegally batted the ball out of the back of the end zone to prevent a Portland touchdown. The play was penalized but Portland would decline the penalty to take the safety. The game started to get a little chippy as both teams would be penalized. With 2:33 left in the game, (Sr) FB Tim Thompson would run in a Touchdown from four yards out. Dziewiatkowski would come on and kick the extra point to make it Portland 27 Marshall 0.
(Sr) LB Dean Battley led the defense with 13 tackles. Miller would add eight tackles. After the game Portland Head Coach John Novara said, “Our defense played great tonight holding them to 112 yards offense, causing three turnovers, and getting a safety. They also gave us a short field most of the night and we were able to capitalize a few times. We are excited about our season and looking forward to the playoffs.”
So is most of Portland Coach!
Up next, Portland (8-1) 91.222 will host Ovid-Elsie (7-2) 65.667. Portland won the season opener 26-17 but that was two months ago and things have changed for both teams. It’s now win and keep playing time. Date and time of this game will be announced Monday.
