Trending
CLYMER -- Portage dropped a 21-7 decision to top-seeded Penns Manor in a District 6 Class A football playoff game on Saturday night at Pat Corrigan Stadium. The fifth-seeded Mustangs played the second half without senior running back Isaac Jubina. He rushed for 74 yards in the first half, but was unable to continue after the intermission.
"He's been banged up. He's had a shoulder injury and he tried to gut it out, and he gave us some," Portage coach Marty Slanoc said. Portage managed only 209 total yards, including 51 from senior quarterback Andrew Miko.
Play of the game: Sophomore running back Isaac Willinsky shed several would-be tacklers to complete a 37-yard gain on the first play of the Mustangs' lone scoring march. Miko connected with Mason Kargo two plays later for a 25-yard score that cut the Penns Manor lead to 14-7 with 10:04 left in the final period.
Player of the game: Penns Manor quarterback Max Hill rushed 25 times for 160 yards and the game's first two touchdowns (1 and 32 yards).
Unsung hero: Penns Manor senior Ashton Courvina helped shed the rushing load off Hill by rushing for 99 yards. His 17-yard touchdown run with 1:21 to play helped seal the verdict.
Most vital statistics: Penns Manor picked up 270 total yards, all rushing. Hill attempted only two passes, neither of which was completed.
Coach Slanoc: "They're great kids. They're not the most vocal leaders in the world. But they're a great group of seniors. They care about each other, what they're supposed to do. They're a good example for these younger kids. And I'm going to miss them."
More from Slanoc on the Mustangs' nine graduating seniors: "It's just tough right now to have it come to an end. There was so much time and effort, especially watching these seniors walk off the field for the last time."
Coach Bill Packer, whose defeated Northern Cambria, 40-14, in a Week Six Heritage Conference meeting: "Northern's a tough team. We played them for the first time, and it was a tough game. We know they can throw the ball well, and they have a couple of kids back who weren't playing that first game. They have a nice senior group."
Notable: Miko completed 3 of 8 passes for 37 yards. ... Three of Jubina's first six rushing attempts produced 11 yards apiece. ... Penns Manor answered Miko's scoring pass with a 16-play, 87-yard scoring drive that Courvina capped off with a 17-yard scoring run that came with 1:21 to play. A penalty drove the Comets to their own 7-yard line. Courvina, however, pulled his team out of a deep hole with an 18-yard run on second-and-16. ... The Comets were assessed nine penalties for 80 yards, including a pair of 15-yard infractions that came on the same play. ... Cold temperatures and rain created difficulties for kick returners at the start of the game.
Records: Portage (7-5), Penns Manor (12-1).
Next week: Penns Manor will face Northern Cambria in the district championship game on Saturday at Mansion Park. Portage has finished its season.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Portage 0 0 0 7 -- 7
Penns Manor 6 0 8 7 -- 21
First quarter
PM--Hill, 1 run (run failed), 7:21.
Third quarter
PM--Hill, 32 run (Courvina pass from Hill), 10:34.
Fourth quarter
P--Kargo, 25 pass from Miko (Miko kick),10:04.
PM--Courvina, 17 run (Sheilds kick), 1:21.
TEAM STATISTICS P PM
Total first downs 11 13
Total yards 208 270
Rushes-yards 42-171 47-270
Yards passing 37 0
Passing (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 3-8-0 0-2-0
Punts-avg. 2-33.5 3-32.0
Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 4-25 9-80
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Portage, Jubina 14-71, Miko 22-51, Willinsky 4-45, Kargo 1-3, Layo 1-1. Penns Manor, Hill 25-160, Courvina 13-99, Marshall 4-10, Bagley 2-9, Smith 1-0, TEAM 2-(-8).
PASSING--Portage, Miko 3-8-0-37. Penns Manor, Hill 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING--Portage, Kargo 2-27, Willinsky 1-12. Penns Manor, None.