Portland Football secures District Championship with win over Hastings

On Friday night, the Raiders hosted the Saxons of Hastings in the MHSAA district football finals.  Portland won the game 37-14.

The first quarter of the game went rather quickly with both teams only having one possession, and neither team reaching the endzone.

In the second quarter, the Raiders would be the first to score when junior running back Nolan Zbytowski scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.  Zbytowski also ran it in for the two-point conversion giving the Raiders am 8-0 lead.

Hastings would even the score later in the quarter when Isaiah Wilson scored on a four-yard run.  Wilson was also successful on the two-point conversion setting the score at 8-8.

Before the second quarter came to an end, the Raiders would regain the lead when senior quarterback Dominic Novara scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.  Senior running back Barrett Brennan was successful on the two-point conversion giving Portland a 16-8 lead. 

In the third quarter of play, the Saxons would find the endzone again, this time on a two-yard run by Tyler Fazer.  Hastings was stopped on the two-point conversion and the score sat at Portland 16, Hastings 14.

In the final quarter of the game, fatigue seemed to take a toll on the Saxons.  Portland found the endzone when junior running back Kayden Dickerson scored on a four-yard touchdown run.  Junior kicker Leo Wagner connected on the extra point extending Portland’s lead to 23-14.

Later in the quarter, the Raiders would score again, this time on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Novara to senior receiver Christopher Battley.  Wagner connected on the point after and Portland would lead 30-14. 

In the final minutes of the game, the Raiders tried to run the clock out by taking a knee, but the Hastings coaching staff used their final timeouts to force Portland to run a few more plays.  The strategy did not work well for the Saxons as Portland’s Novara connected with Battley for one more touchdown, this one a 45-yard passing score.  Wagner’s extra-point was good, and the Raiders extended their lead to 37-14. 

As time expired, the Raiders had secured a 37-14 victory, and a District Championship.

Scoring summary by quarter:

1st – 2nd – 3rd – 4th – Final

Portland 0 – 16 – 0 – 21 – 37

Hastings 0 – 8 – 6 – 0 – 14

Portland Rushing Totals:

Kayden Dickerson 16 for 60 and one touchdown

Nolan Zbytowski 13 for 74 and one touchdown

Barrett Brennan 9 for 40

Mason McGregor 1 for 1

Dominic Novara 2 for 16 and one touchdown

Portland Passing Totals:

Dominic Novara 8 for 8 for 154 yards and two touchdowns

Portland Receiving Totals:

Christopher Battley 4 for 114 and two touchdowns

Evan Gross 2 for 24

Barrett Brennan 1 for 11

Nolan Zbytowski 1 for 5

Portland Defensive Totals:

AJ Weber 12 tackles and one interception

Barrett Spitzley 7 tackles

Kayden Dickerson 7 tackles

Evan Gross 2 tackles and one interception

The Raiders improve to 11-0 on the season and advance to Niles in the Regional Championship.  That game is scheduled for this Friday at 7:00 at Niles. 

The Vikings of Niles are currently 10-1 on the year with their only loss coming to St. Joseph 30-7 in week one.  Niles defeated Paw Paw 42-14 in the first round of the playoffs, and defeated Edwardsburg 21-0 in their district finals.

The winner of Portland/Niles will advance to the state semi-finals where they will face the winner of Whitehall/Grand Rapids South Christian on Friday November 22nd or Saturday November 23rd, likely at a neutral site. 

The other semi-final contest will feature the winner of Goodrich/Haslett and the winner of Harper Woods/Macomb Lutheran North. 

Photos by Renae Goodman.