Portland football rolls Sexton in CAAC White opener

The Portland High School varsity football team traveled to Lansing Sexton on Friday evening for the first CAAC White match-up for both teams in the 2025 season.  The Raiders picked up a convincing 49-12 win, improving to 2-0 for the season. 

After receiving the opening kick-off, the Raiders wasted little time and scored on their first possession when senior running back Nolan Zbytowski scored on a three-yard touchdown run with 8:31 remaining in the first quarter.  Portland point after was no good and the Raiders had an early 6-0 lead.

Sexton fumbled on their first offensive play and the Raiders recovered starting Portland’s second possession on the J-Dubb 30-yard line.

Just a few moments later Portland senior running back Brad Meyers ran it into the endzone for a 24-yard touchdown run.  Senior quarterback Ethan Cassel connected with senior receiver Max Sandborn on the two-point conversion giving Portland a 14-0 lead with 7:39 remaining in the first. 

On their next possession, Sexton picked up their first points of the night when sophomore quarterback Zion Mathis connected with senior receiver Josiah Stewart for a 65-yard touchdown pass with 7:28 left in the first.  The J-Dubb two-point conversion failed and the score moved to Portland 14, sexton 6. 

The Portland offense got back to work quickly driving deep into Sexton territory.  The drive was capped off by a three-yard touchdown run by senior running back Kayden Dickerson with 2:21left in the first.  Portland’s extra point by sophomore Chase Fullet was good extending Portland’s lead to 21-6.

Just before the end of the first quarter the Portland defense would force Sexton to punt.

Portland found the endzone again early in the second quarter when Dickerson ran it in on a 31-yard touchdown run with 9:20 remaining in the second.  Fullet’s point after was good extending Portland’s lead to 28-6. 

Before the Sexton offense could build much momentum, Portland senior defensive back Brady Rowe would intercept a Sexton pass setting up the Portland offense on their own 37. 

The Raider offense got right back to work driving the ball deep into Sexton territory.  Zbytowski then got his second touchdown of the contest on a 10-yard touchdown run with 4:05 left in the second.  Fullet connected on his point after giving Portland a 35-6 lead.

Portland would find the endzone again on their following possession when Cassel connected with Zbytowski for a 27-yard touchdown pass.  Fullet’s point after was good and the Raiders had a 42-6 lead with 0:02 remaining in the second quarter. 

The second half of the game moved quickly under the MHSAA running clock rule due to Portland’s strong lead. 

As the J-Dubbs tried to build some momentum on offense, another turnover put an end to that when Portland’s Sanborn intercepted the ball. 

The Raiders capitalized on the turnover when junior running back Carson Spenski broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run with 4:36 left in the third quarter.  Fullet connected on the point after giving Portland a 49-6 lead. 

The Raider defense continued to cause headaches for the Sexton offense.  Just before the end of the third quarter, Portland junior defensive back Kehyan Page intercepted a J-Dubb pass. 

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, the Raider offense fumbled giving Sexton the ball with 10:58 left in the game. 

Each team would turn the ball over on down in the next possessions. 

Sexton picked up their final points of the game with 1:09 left in the fourth when Mathis ran it in for a five-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper.  Sexton went for a two-point conversion, but that was intercepted by Portland junior linebacker Rico Palma. 

As the clock ran out the Raiders would secure a 49-12 victory.

For the Raider’s Dickerson finished the game with 213 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns.  Spenski finished with 90 yards on five carries with one touchdown.  Zbytowski had 55 yards with two touchdowns.  Meyers finished with 43 yards and one touchdown.  Senior Trevor Smith, and juniors Deacon Townsend, Tanner Darunday, Alex Atwell and Hunter Burgoyne each had rushing yards.

Cassel finished the game three of four for 38 yards passing with one touchdown. 

For receiving, Zbytowski had one catch for 16 yards and a touchdown, Dickerson had one catch for 11 yards, and Rowe had one catch for 11 yards. 

Portland moves to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the CAAC White.  Sexton moves to 0-2, 0-1 in the CAAC White.

Next week the Raiders travel to Olivet for their week three contest.  Olivet is currently 2-0 with a 57-13 week one win over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, and a 34-10 week two win over Lansing Catholic. 

In other CAAC White week 2 action:

Charlotte 48, Eaton Rapids 14

Lake Odessa Lakewood 56, Benton Harbor 6

St Johns 49, Ionia 16