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By Brad Rosemas
For the Mirror
PORTAGE -- Aiming to rebound off a 42-point loss in Week 3, Portage set the tone for its offense on Friday night by scoring on a 69-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game.
The Mustangs rode this momentum into making multiple key stops defensively on the way to defeating Heritage Conference foe Penns Manor 28-15, giving the Comets their first loss of the campaign.
The victory marked Portage's first win over Penns Manor as a member of the Heritage and the first time the Mustangs defeated the Comets since 2016.
"Obviously, Penns Manor is a great team," Portage coach Marty Slanoc said. "When we came in, they were the powerhouse team of the conference. I also still remember that playoff win in 2016. It was a great battle tonight. Our guys rose to the challenge and got it done tonight. I'm very proud of them."
Play of the game: Portage put the game away by tallying the lone points of the fourth quarter, after the Mustangs muffed a punt and fumbled away a possession in the third.
The Mustangs chewed up nearly seven minutes of game clock and converted on three fourth downs, including a fake punt, before Issac Willinsky scored from 9 yards out with 2:54 to go.
"You have to give Portage the credit; they made all the big plays tonight," Penns Manor coach Bill Packer said. "That last drive, when we really needed the ball back, we couldn't stop them. They were running that jet sweep and we couldn't get off the blocks. They beat us up front."
Players of the game: Portage skill players Owen Gouse and Easton Slanoc led the way for the Mustangs offense.
Gouse caught a 69-yard touchdown pass from Slanoc on the third play of the game before throwing for a 26-yard score in the second quarter. Gouse also added 38 rush yards on five carries.
"We were flying around and making plays everywhere tonight defensively," Gouse said. "We wanted to come back after last week. We decided we were going to reboot this season, and tonight was the start of it. It was a hard-fought win and I'm proud of the guys."
Slanoc completed 6 of 11 passes for 150 yards and two scores. He tallied a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brendan Smithtro to give Portage a 22-7 lead at the half.
"The work was put in at practice this week," Easton Slanoc said. "We definitely came in a lot more prepared. The line gave me a lot of time in the pocket to be able to make throws and I'm glad I was able to come through. We worked a lot on the passing game and it showed tonight."
Most vital statistic: The Mustangs held Penns Manor to a combined 65 yards on the ground on 29 carries.
Records: Penns Manor 3-1, Portage 2-2.
Next week: Penns Manor hosts Purchase Line, Portage travels to Conemaugh Township.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Penns Manor 0 7 8 0 -- 15
Portage 6 16 0 6 -- 28
First Quarter
P -- Gouse 69 pass from Slanoc (kick failed), 9:58.
Second Quarter
PM -- Lieb 1 run (Kuzemchak kick), 9:31.
P -- Bobolsky 26 pass from Gouse (Layo run), 4:35.
P -- Smithtro 23 pass from Slanoc (Willinsky run), 1:36.
Third Quarter
PM -- Kuzemchak 9 pass from Lieb (Lieb to Cooper), 8:50.
Fourth Quarter
P -- Willinsky 9 run (kick failed), 2:54.
TEAM STATISTICS PM P
First downs 9 13
Total yards 175 286
Rushes-yards 29-65 37-110
Yards passing 110 176
Pass (comp.-att.-int.) 8-20-1 7-12-0
Punts-avg. 4-29.3 2-39.5
Fumbles-lost 1-0 4-1
Penalties-yards 5-35 4-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Penns Manor, Lieb 14-(-5), Vojtek 5-9, Williams 7-30, James 3-32. Portage, Slanoc 9-(-2), Gouse 5-38, Layo 5-21, Willinsky 16-56, Smithtro 2-(-3).
PASSING--Penns Manor, Lieb 8-20-110-1-1. Portage, Slanoc 6-11-150-2-0, Gouse 1-1-26-1-0.
RECEIVING--Penns Manor, Kuzemchak 2-25, Vojtek 1-42, Williams 1-6, James 3-24, Cooper 1-13. Portage, Bobolsky 1-26, Gouse 2-69, Layo 1-40, Willinsky 2-18, Smithtro 1-23.