By Matt Michelone

For the Mirror

PORTAGE — While Northern Cambria and Portage wrapped up their respective Heritage Conference schedules at Portage Area Stadium Friday night, both teams had a difficult balancing act as they tried to earn a victory.

They both found out later on Friday night — after their game — that because of how things played out among the other District 6 Class 1A teams, Portage and Northern Cambria are going to see each other again.

Only this time, that matchup will be at Duffy Daugherty Stadium in Northern Cambria, not Portage, next weekend.

While largely both teams played a close first half, it was the Colts opening things up late in the second half as they pulled away to double up the Mustangs, 28-14.

Play of the game: Northern Cambria quarterback Tyler Dumm found Daniel Farrell with a short pass, which he turned into a 91-yard sprint to the end zone, putting the Colts up.

Player of the game: Farrell finished with four catches for 107 yards and the touchdown.

Unsung heroes: The Northern Cambria defense forced four turnovers, along with Caleb Dolney who had a crucial 40-yard reception late in the third quarter for a touchdown.

Road blocks: Portage’s run game was stymied by the Colts as they were held to less than two yards per play (49 rushes for 78 yards overall).

Northern Cambria coach Sam Shutty: “We just had to open up our offensive playbook (in the second half). We were trying to be basic, and just kind of get away with base plays, and it’s things that we’re comfortable with and we run all of the time, but not the nuances we try to do week in and week out. They’re real big up front so we weren’t able to get the run game going like we thought we would be able to.” 

Portage coach Marty Slanoc: “We wanted to try to control the clock, and control the ball and we did. We just couldn’t get things going, and they hit a big play, and they hit another. Ty Dumm is the best athlete in our conference. He’s tough to corral, he slipped by us a few times, and so did some of their other guys.”

Notable: Friday was Portage’s senior night. … Entering the game, the Mustangs were the seventh seed while Northern Cambria, regardless of how other games in the area ended, had locked up the second seed for the 1A playoffs. … The play clocks were turned off for the second half. … Portage didn’t attempt a pass in the first half, but finished the game completing four passes of 20 yards or more.

Records: Northern Cambria (9-1), Portage (4-6).

Next week: Northern Cambria is the No. 2 seed and will host the No. 7 seedPortage.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Northern Cambria 6 0 8 14 – 28

Portage 6 0 0 8 – 14

First Quarter

NC–Dumm 2 run (kick failed), 7:37.

P–N.Willinsky 68 fumble return (kick failed), :13.

Third Quarter

NC–Dolney 40 pass from Dumm (Dumm run), :25.

Fourth Quarter

NC–Farrell 91 pass from Dumm (Pershing kick), 5:24.

P–I.Willinsky 49 pass from Gouse (I. Willinsky run), 5:04.

NC–Dumm 24 run (Pershing kick), 2:06.

TEAM STATISTICS NC P

First downs 15 10

Total yards 345 202

Rushes-yards 33-164 49-78

Yards passing 181 124

Pass (comp.-att.-int.) 6-15-0 4-7-1

Punts-avg. 3-30.3 3-31.3

Fumbles-lost 1-1 4-3

Penalties-yards 3-30 5-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Northern Cambria, Fry 18-81, Dumm 9-60, Fox 2-13, Farrell 2-6, Kirsch 2-4. Portage, I. Willinsky 21-76, N. Willinsky 4-4, Gouse 11-(-7), TEAM 2-(-2), Smithtro 1-2, Layo 1-(-3), Slanoc 2-8.

PASSING–Northern Cambria, Dumm 6-15-0-181. Portage, Gouse 4-7-1-124.

RECEIVING–Northern Cambria, Farrell 4-108, Dolney 2-73. Portage, Layo 2-52, I. Willinsky 1-49, Bobolsky 1-23.