PORTAGE - On a night reserved for a celebration of both history and present - senior night - in Portage Area High School football, the game was the most important event taking place - and the Mustangs didn't disappoint one bit.

Portage rode the emotional high of the pregame festivities and went on to rout North Star, 61-6, Friday night in WestPAC action at Portage Area Stadium.

"It was just a picture perfect game for us," Portage coach Gary Gouse said. "There was so much emotion in that locker room. We brought [Mike] Chobany in before the game to talk to the kids, and I don't think our feet hit the ground out of the locker room."

Before the matchup even began, 60 years of Mustang football was honored and the first team of 1949 took center stage as 13 players from that first Portage squad returned to their old stomping grounds - many traveling great lengths to take part.

A banquet was held in their honor prior to game time and a slide show of the 1949 squad, compiled by assistant coach and former Mustang great running back Marty Slanoc, was shown about 20 minutes before game time.

While history was celebrated prior to kickoff, it was also made during the contest.

Senior fullback Mike Sinosky broke Mike Chobany's 33-year school rushing record for career yards.

Sinosky, needing 135 yards to set the mark, reached it at the 6:50 mark of the third quarter on a 21-yard run.

The game was halted as Chobany presented the new record holder with the game ball.

"It's was a great feeling that he [Chobany] took time out of his own life to drive seven hours to come up here to see it happen," Sinosky said.

Sinosky, who was pulled from action with a few minutes to go in the third, finished with 147 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns [5, 3 and 33 yards].

Up to this point, Sinosky has racked up 4,029 rushing yards. He rushed for 81 his freshman year on just seven carries, 1,305 on 161 chances his sophomore campaign, 1,655 on 213 attempts his junior season, and he has 988 on 82 tries so far this year.

"Our lineman ... for the past three years that I've run the ball, have been exceptional," Sinosky said.

Chobany, a 1976 graduate who received a full scholarship to play at the University of Pittsburgh and now resides in Columbus, Ohio, amassed 4,017 yards in his day.

"It's a special night for me because it's a special night for him [Sinosky]," Chobany said.

The win raised Portage's record to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the WestPAC, while North Star fell to 2-6 and 2-6.

"We were just a little bit outmanned here [tonight]," North Star coach Stacy Schmitt said.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

North Star0 6 0 0 - 6

Portage21 7 13 20 - 61

First quarter

P-Sinosky 5 run (Sinosky kick), 10:35.

P-Sinosky 3 run (Sinosky kick), 4:11.

P-Kostan 54 run (Sinosky kick), 0.0

Second quarter

P-Sinosky 33 run (Sinosky kick), 10:14.

NS-Kuncher 51 run (kick failed), 3:39

Third quarter

P-Burgan 46 run (kick failed), 9:21.

P-Kostan 16 run (Sinosky kick), 5:55.

Fourth quarter

P-Crum 28 run (Sinosky kick), 10:59.

P-E. Price 1 run (Kotch kick), 4:00.

P-Corrente 15 fumble recovery (run failed), 51.4.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: North Star-Kuncher 17-96, B. Zborovancik 2-6, M. Strasiser 11-(-46), Mostoller 2-2, Shroyer 1-3, Rice 2-(-6). Portage-Sinosky 15-147, Burgan 7-73, Swires 1-(-6), Kostan 5-85, Crum 2-28, Hampton 1-12, E. Price 3-7, Noel 2-36.

PASSING: North Star-M. Strasiser 4-7-2-56, T. Strasiser 1-1-0-7, Rice 0-0-0-0. Portage-Swires 2-5-0-24, Bryja 0-0-0-0.

RECEIVING: North Star-T. Strasiser 4-56, M. Strasiser 1-7. Portage-Scoran 2-24.

INTERCEPTIONS: North Star-none. Portage-Scoran, Crum.

TEAM STATISTICSNSP

First downs816

Rushes-yards35-5536-382

Passing (comp.-att.-int.)5-8-22-5-0

Yards passing6324

Total yards118406

Fumbles-lost2-20-0

Penalties-yards5-335-40

Punts-avg.5-33.82-33.5