Zbytowski’s four TD performance leads Portland over Whitehall

The Portland High School football team hosted the Vikings of Whitehall on Friday night to wrap up the 2024 regular season.  Junior running back Nolan Zbytowski had a stand out performance for the Raiders, leading Portland to a 49-7 win.

Portland senior quarterback Dominic Novara scored the first points of the game in the first quarter when he scrambled 39-yards for a touchdown.  Junior kicker Leo Wagner extra point game Portland a 7-0 lead. 

Zbytowski picked up Portland’s second score later in first quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run.  Wagner’s extra point extended the Raider lead to 14-0.

Zbytowski found the endzone again in the second quarter, this time on a 9-yard touchdown run.  Wagner again connected on the point after extending Portland’s lead to 21-0. 

In the third quarter, Zbytowski picked up his third touchdown of the night, this time on a 2-yard run.  Wagner’s extra point pushed the lead to 28-0. 

Later in the fourth, Zbytowski picked up his fourth and final touchdown of the evening, this time on a 10-yard TD run.  Wagner’s extra point set the score at 35-0. 

In the final quarter of the contest, Portland junior running back Mason McGregor broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run.  Wagner’s extra point extended the lead to 42-0. 

Portland’s final points of the game came when senior Isaac Kramer found the endzone on a 28-yard touchdown run.  Wagner connected on the extra point giving the Raiders a 49-7 lead.

Wagner finished the evening a perfect seven for seven on extra point attempts. 

Portland Rushing Stats:

Nolan Zybtowski 13 for 123 4 TD's

Barrett Brennan 5 for 29

Dominic Novara 3 for 39 1 TD

Kayden Dickerson 10 for 67

Caden Lockwood 2 for 13

Trevor Smith 2 for 16

Mason McGregor 1 for 80 1 TD

Jacob Farley 1 for 8

Isaac Kramer 1 for 28 1 TD

Portland Passing Stats:

Dominic Novara 2 for 3 for 12 yards

Portland Defensive Stats:

Brad Meyers 10 Tackles

AJ Weber 5 tackles

Brady Rowe 4 tackles 2 INT's

Scoring Summary by Quarter:

1st – 2nd – 3rd – 4th – Final

Portland 14 – 7 – 14 – 14 – 49

Whitehall 0 – 0 – 0 – 7 – 7

The win allowed Portland to finish the season with a perfect 9-0 record.  Whitehall’s final regular season record was 6-3.

On Sunday afternoon the MHSAA announced playoff pairings.  The Raiders will host Lansing Sexton (5-4 overall, 4-3 CAAC White) on Friday at 7:00.  The winner will advance to face the winner of Hastings (8-1 overall) and Ionia (6-3 overall, 4-3 CAAC White).

Photo by Renea Goodman.