Portland Tops Montague in Barn Burner

If you were looking for a slug fest between two playoff teams, you walked away happy Friday as Portland topped Montague in an exciting 27-20 game.

The Wildcats’ Offense would start the game off with the ball but, the Raider Defense would only allow 1 yard before forcing a Wildcat punt. On the Raider’s first possession they would go for it on 4th and 6 but (Jr) QB Owen Russell’s pass would be tipped and fall incomplete. After taking over on their own 32, the Wildcats mounted a deep drive into Raider territory before Wildcats (So) QB Drew Collins pass was tipped and intercepted by (Sr) Jacob Hickling at the Raider 11-yard line. The Raider Offense would mount a drive of their own, led by the legs of (Sr) Jake Veale, who gouged the Wildcat Defense on a 53-yard run during the drive. Veale would open the scoring as slashed into the end zone with a 7-yard run. The extra point attempt failed. Portland 6 Montague 0 with :24 seconds left in the 1st Quarter. At the end of the 1st Qtr Portland 6 Montague 0.

The Wildcats would start the 2nd Qtr with their own scoring drive when Collins hit (Sr) WR Kenyan Johnston on a 24-yard TD. Wildcat (Sr) K David Rumsey would come on and convert the extra point attempt, however the Wildcats were flagged for Illegal Formation. The extra point attempt would sail wide right after the 5-yard penalty with 8:15 left in the half. After the Raider Offense went 3 and out, the Wildcats would get the ball back on the Raider 47-yard line with 6:00 left in the 1st half. After another deep drive, the Raider Defense would come up big again when (Sr) CB Hunter Hohman intercepted a Wildcat pass near the Raider goal line on 3rd and goal from the 11 with 3:30 left in the 1st half. Hohman returned the ball back to the Raider 40, however the Wildcat Defense would force a Raider punt. Half Time Portland 6 Montague 6

In the 2nd half, Veale would open the scoring when he caught a short pass from Russell racing 94 yards for the TD. (Sr) K Tate Dziewiatowski converted the extra point to give Portland a 13-6 lead with 6:52 left in the 3rd Qtr. The Wildcats would put together their own long TD when (Sr) RB Sebastian Archer scored from 55 yards. Rumsey’s extra point was good tying the game up at 13-13 with 5:22 left in the 3rd Qtr. The Wildcats would score again on their next possession when (Sr) RB Bryce Stark rumbled in from 25 yards out. Rumsey’s kick was good to put the Wildcats up 20-13 with :29 seconds left in the 3rd Qtr. End of the 3rd Qtr Portland 13 Montague 20

The Raider Offense would go to work in the 4th Qtr. Taking advantage of Wildcat costly penalties, the Raiders drove to the Wildcat 5-yard line after a targeting penalty capped a hard run by Veale where he broke out of 5 or 6 Wildcat attempted tackles. It would all lead to a 4th and goal TD pass from Russell to Veale from 7 yards out. Dziewiatowski’s extra point was good thing the game again at 20-20 with 6:54 left in the game. Following the TD, the Raiders kicked off to the Wildcats but (Jr) LB Kobe Kazamer raced down a leveled a huge hit on the Wildcat returned forcing a fumble with the Raiders taking over on the Wildcat 18-yard line. (Jr) FB Blake Meyers would punch the ball in from 4 yards out for the Raider TD. Dziewiatowski would convert the extra point putting the Raiders up 27-20 with 4:48 left in the game. After a short drive, (Sr) S Griff Summers would intercept a 4th and 10 pass with 1:47 left in the game. On the ensuing Raider possession, the Wildcat Defense would come up with a big stop forcing the Raiders to punt the ball back to the Wildcats on 4th and 3 with :49 seconds left in the game. The Wildcats would start a long drive from their own 20-yard line with :39 seconds left in the game. After a long pass completion, the Wildcats moved into Raider territory with :20 left. The Wildcats would move down to the Raider 32 on a defensive pass interference call. The Wildcats would have 2 cracks at the end zone with :10 seconds left and :4 seconds left. The game ended with an interception by (Sr) S Cade Parmalee. Final Portland 27 Montague 20

The Raiders battled their way to a win over a quality opponent. Next up for the Raiders will be the first round of the playoffs which will be hosted at home, most likely Friday at 7 pm. The Raiders will learn who their opponent is Sunday night. Playing against playoff quality opponents down the stretch should be good prep for whoever they draw in the playoffs.

After the game Coach Novara said, “I am very proud of our kids efforts tonight, they fought hard and beat a very good Montague football team, in a playoff atmosphere. We cleaned up a lot of mistakes from last week and were able to make enough plays to get the win. Montague is a great team and very well coached." Offense Rushing Jacob Veale 17 for 85 1 TD Blake Meyers 18 for 94 1 TD Gavin McGregor 1 for 5 Owen Russell 5 for 18 Hunter Hoppes 1 for -3 Blake Patrick 2 for 10 Passing Owen Russell 2 for 7 for 101 yards 2 TD's Receiving Jacob Veale 2 for 101 2 TD's Defense

Hunter Hohman 12 tackles 1 Int Carson Frewen 12 tackles Scoring Summary Portland 6 - 0 - 7 - 14 = 27 Montague 0 - 6 - 14 - 0 = 20 1st Quarter Jacob Veale 7 yard TD run Tate Dziewatkowski XPT Failed 2nd Quarter Montague 24 yard TD pass XPT Failed 3rd Quarter Owen Russell to Jacob Veale 94 yard TD pass Tate XPT Montague 55 yard TD run XPT Montague 25 yard TD run XPT 4th Quarter Owen Russell to Jacob Veale 7 yard TD pass Tate XPT Blake Meyers 4 yard TD run Tate XPT