Raider football rolls Eaton Rapids in league opener

The Portland High School Raider football team traveled to Eaton Rapids on Friday night to face the Greyhounds in their Capital Area Activities Conference White Division opener. The home field advantage was not enough for Eaton Rapids as Portland rolled to a decisive 62-0 victory.

Senior running back Branson Goodman was the first Raider to score on the night when he ran it in from five yard out. Junior kicker Aiden Pulling connected on the point after giving the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.

The Raiders started their next possession on their own 27. A few plays later senior running back Drew Miller would break free for a 43-yard touchdown run. Pulling nailed the point after extending Portland’s lead to 14-0.

With 5:13 left in the first quarter, Portland junior Reice Thelen would intercept a Greyhound pass and run it back for a Raider touchdown. Pulling’s point after pushed the lead to 21-0.

Portland struck again early in the second quarter when senior quarterback Marc Nobis connected with junior Caden Thelen for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Pulling’s extra point extended the lead to 28-0.

The Raiders would find the endzone again when senior running Baron Seal ran it in from eight yards out. Pulling would connect once again and the Raider lead moved to 35-0 with 6:07 remaining in the second quarter of play.

The Portland defense held solid and prevented the Greyhound offense from gaining any traction.

The Raiders would pick up their final points of the first half with 5:32 remaining in the second quarter when junior Conner Kazamer broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run. Pulling would connect on the point after and Portland extended their lead to 42-0.

As the second half of play began, the Raider squad would waste little time before scoring again. Caden Thelen ran the second half kick off back over 80 yards for a Portland score. Pulling connected again and the Portland lead was 49-0.

With 1:30 remaining in the third quarter, Portland junior running back Conner Thelen would find the endzone when he ran for a 19-yard touchdown. The point after was no good and Portland’s lead sat at 55-0.

The Raiders final points of the game came with 5:44 remaining in the game when sophomore Keaton McGregor scored on a 10-yard touchdown run. Pulling connected on the extra point and moved the lead to 62-0.

With the win, Portland improves to 2-1 overall, and 1-0 in the CAAC White. Next week they trave to Ionia for another CAAC White contest. The Bulldogs are 1-2 overall, 0-1 in the conference. In week one they fell to Belding 46-14. In week two the defeated Wyoming Kelloggsville 44-9. In their week three contest, they fell to CAAC White member Lansing Sexton 18-14.

After three weeks of play, here are the standing in the CAAC White:

Team W-L (Conference) W-L (Overall)

Charlotte 1-0 3-0

Lansing Sexton 1-0 2-1

Portland 1-0 2-1

Ionia 0-1 1-2

Eaton Rapids 0-1 0-3

Lansing Catholic 0-1 0-3