Portland football tops Detroit Country Day 30-6 in Season Opener

The Portland Raider varsity football team hosted the Yellowjackets of Detroit Country Day on Friday night for the opener of the 2025 high school football season.  The Raiders were in control of most of the game and won by a convincing score of 30-6. 

The Raiders picked up the first score of the game in the first quarter when senior quarterback Ethan Cassel finished the Raiders first drive of the game on a QB keeper.  Portland added two points on an extra point fake when senior Brady Rowe ran it in around the right end of the Country Day defense giving the Raiders an early 8-0 lead.

Later in the first, the Raiders would score again, this time on an interception return for a touchdown by Rowe.  Cassel connected with senior running back Kayden Dickerson on the two-point conversion giving the Raiders a 14-0 lead. 

The Raiders would find the endzone again in the second quarter when senior running back Nolan Zbytowski ran it in for a touchdown.  Cassel connected with Zbytowski for the two-point attempt to extend Portland’s lead to 22-0.

The Yellowjackets picked up their only points of the game in the third quarter when junior quarterback James Torain connected with sophomore receiver Atlas Amezcua for a touchdown.  Country Day’s conversion attempt was no good and the score moved to 22-6.

The Raiders would strike one more time before the end of the game when Rowe returned another interception for a touchdown.  Portland’s conversion failed and the Raider lead moved to 30-6. 

Portland’s Cassel finished the game four of six passing for 13 yards.

Senior running back Brad Meyers led Portland receiving with two catches for nine yards.  He also had three carries for 11 yards. 

Dickerson led Portland in rushing with 24 carries for 132 yards, with his long being 19 yards.  Zbytowski had 12 carries for 66 yards and one TD, with his long run being 17 yards.  Senior Trevor Smith had two carries for 16 yards with a long of 19 yards. 

Defensively, Rowe had two interception returns for touchdowns and one tackle.  Senior defensive end Carter White had one interception and five tackles.  Dickerson had seven tackles.  Zbytowski and junior defensive back Deacon Townsend each had six tackles.  Meyers and junior defensive back Kehyan Page each had four tackles.

One bright side for the Yellowjackets on the stats sheet is that they won the time of possession category with 14:08 against Portland’s 8:49.

Team Totals

	Portland	Country Day
First Downs	15	8
Rushing	237 yards	14 yards
Receiving	13 yards	206 yards
Total Offense	250 yards	220 yards

You can see Portland Head Coach John Novara’s post-game comments below.

Next week the Raiders travel to Lansing Sexton for their first CAAC White contest of the year.  That game will start at 5:00 PM.  Sexton lost their season opener to Lansing Everett 24-14. 

Thursday night finals for other CAAC White teams:

Olivet 57, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 13

Ionia 7, Belding 63

Lakewood 8, Godwin Heights 38

Lansing Catholic 14, Williamston 46

Eaton Rapids 13, Lansing Eastern 23

Charlotte 32, Three Rivers 33 (OT)