By John Hartsock

jhartsock@altoonamirror.com

CLYMER — Football is a game in which a domino effect often takes place on the field.

A team that controls the line of scrimmage in a game usually dominates the rushing statistics, and ultimately gives itself a great leg up on victory.

Penns Manor did all that in a Heritage Conference matchup with visiting Portage on a wet, damp Friday night at posh Pat Corrigan Field, and the result was a convincing 22-0 Comets win in a game that holds prominent implications for the upcoming District 6 Class 1A playoffs.

Junior quarterback Amin Lieb rushed for 104 yards on 19 carries and a pair of first-quarter touchdowns, as Penns Manor set the tone early in improving its season and conference record to 4-5.

Portage (3-6) was able to rush for only 43 total yards, and Mustangs coach Marty Slanoc believed that to be the biggest difference in the game.

“It’s pretty evident that they controlled the play up front,” Slanoc said of the winning Comets, who rolled up 219 rushing yards in the game. “They came out fired up tonight, and punched us in the face.

“That’s on me as the head coach of this team,” Slanoc added. “I need to have our players ready. Credit to Penns Manor — they were the better prepared team tonight. You’ve got to win those battles up front. If you can’t run the ball, you can’t win.”

Plays of the game: Lieb’s touchdown runs of 12 and 15 yards capped off impressive ground drives for Penns Manor on its first two possessions. The first drive covered 61 yards on 11 plays, all on the ground, and the second drive covered 50 yards on seven plays, with six of them on the ground.

Player of the game: Along with his two touchdown runs, Lieb also ran for a 2-point conversion, passed for another one, and intercepted a pass on defense.

Unsung heroes: Penns Manor’s offensive and defensive lines paved the way for the Comets’ dominance in the running game.

Most vital statistics: Penns Manor completely controlled the first half, running 34 plays from scrimmage to Portage’s 12. The Comets had an 18:17 to 5:39 advantage in time of possession, an 11-0 edge in first downs, and amassed 176 total first-half yards while holding Portage to a negative-3 yards total.

Penns Manor coach Bill Packer: “We felt that we had to win this game tonight, and we practiced hard and worked hard all week to prepare. Our kids stepped up tonight, and our defense did a great job.”

Lieb: “We knew that we had to win this game to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. Our coaches prepared us all week on defense, and on offense, our line blocked great.”

Portage two-way starting senior tackle Nick Summerville: “It sucks to lose a game of this importance, especially in your senior year. Every player on this team played very hard, but sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

Notable: Penns Manor put a padlock on the victory when sophomore linebacker Dylan Depp returned an intercepted pass 19 yards for a touchdown with 6:38 left in the game. … Portage’s best scoring chance came on its second possession of the third quarter, when sophomore quarterback Easton Slanoc connected with sophomore wideout Gavin Bobolsky on a 37-yard pass that gave the Mustangs a first down at the Penns Manor 7-yard line. Portage gained only 2 total yards on its next four plays, however, with the drive stalling at the Penns Manor 5-yard line … On Portage’s next possession, the Mustangs took possession at the Penns Manor 11 after stopping the Comets on downs, but an illegal procedure penalty and three successive incomplete passes stalled that chance at the Penns Manor 17.

Records: Portage is 3-6 overall and in the HC; Penns Manor is 4-5 overall and in the conference.

Next Friday night: Portage hosts River Valley; Penns Manor visits Purchase Line.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Portage 0 0 0 0 — 0

Penns Manor 14 0 0 8 — 22

First Quarter

PM–Lieb 12 run (run failed), 6:02.

PM–Lieb 15 run (Lieb run), :03.

Fourth Quarter

PM–D. Depp 19 interception return (Williams pass from Lieb), 6:38.

TEAM STATISTICS P PM

First downs 6 13

Total yards 129 230

Rushes-yards 21-43 50-219

Yards passing 86 11

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 5-19-2 2-4-0

Punts/avg. 5-36.7 4-34.8

Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 5-40 7-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Portage, Willinsky 10-27, Smithtro 4-15, Nesbella 3-3, Slanoc 4-(-2). Penns Manor, Lieb 19-104, Leasure 13-61, Pytash 10-43, Smith 7-9, Snyder 1-2.

PASSING–Portage, Slanoc 5-19-2-86. Penns Manor, Lieb 2-4-0-11.

RECEIVING–Portage, Bobolsky 2-52, Layo 1-25, Smithtro 1-7, Nesbella 1-2. Penns Manor, Smith 1-7, Williams 1-4.