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COMMODORE -- Portage overcame a rough first half and went on to post a 16-0 victory against Purchase Line in a Heritage Conference football game on Friday night at Barry T. Madill Athletic Field.
The Mustangs fumbled the ball four times in the first half.
"Our kids owned some mistakes that they made, which is what you want to see. We talked about it, and continued what we were doing," Portage coach Marty Slanoc said. "We had different kids make big plays at different times in big situations."
Play of the game: Bode Layo's 30-yard touchdown run on Portage's first possession of the third quarter broke open a heretofore scoreless game.
Player of the game: Portage senior Issac Willinsky ran for a game-high 166 yards on 33 rushing attempts. The Mustangs wore down the young Purchase Line defense during the second half. Willinsky's 8-yard touchdown run with 1:26 remaining in the fourth quarter erased any lingering doubt to the outcome.
Unsung heroes: Portage senior Brendan Smithtro ran for 41 yards. He also recorded one of the Mustangs' three quarterback sacks.
Most vital statistics: Portage held Purchase Line to 64 total yards and five first downs. The Mustangs gained 316 total yards. They punted only once.
Portage coach Marty Slanoc on Willinsky: "We challenge our kids; give him a push. If we get him going a little bit, he's a tough kid to bring down."
Willinsky: "It was amazing. Just give me the rock, and we'll go down the field. It was awesome. Just pound the ball. If it's not broken, don't fix it. We just need to keep pounding the ball."
Purchase Line coach Matt Falisec: "We knew coming in that kid runs hard. And I told him after the game, 'You're probably the hardest running back we've faced.' When he runs straight, he's coming 100 percent, full-bore. So, he's a tough guy."
Notable: Portage outgained Purchase Line, 48 to minus-1 during a scoreless first quarter. ... Portage quarterback Owen Gouse completed 4 of 10 passes for 45 yards. ... Victor Bartlebaugh recovered a fumble for Purchase Line. ... Portage defenders Noah Willinsky (9 yards), Bode Layo (8 yards) and Smithtro (8 yards) recorded the sacks. ... Purchase Line senior Jakob Mountain lined up for a 33-yard field goal attempt, only to attempt a pass that landed incomplete. Portage took over from its 15 and traveled to the Purchase Line 2 before time expired at the end of a scoreless first half. ... Willinsky's apparent 7-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter was nullified by a holding penalty. ... Purchase Line honored the 1969 team that won the first championship of the Appalachian Conference, a forerunner to the Heritage Conference. Stanley Bem, Jim Klyap and Greg White coached the team.
Team records: Portage (3-5); Purchase Line (2-6).
Next game: Portage travels to Homer-Center, and Purchase Line visits United Valley on Friday.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Portage 0 0 7 9--16
Purchase Line 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Third Quarter
P--Layo, 30 run (Slanoc kick), 7:59.
Fourth Quarter
P--Safety, Layden tackled in end zone, 6:39.
P--Willinsky 8 run (Slanoc kick), 1:26.
TEAM STATS P PL
First downs 20 5
Total yards 316 64
Rushes-yards 58-271 18-27
Yards passing 45 37
Passes-comp.-int. 4-10-0 3-11-0
Punts-avg. 1-35.0 4-39.0
Fumbles-lost 5-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-45 7-62
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing--Portage, I. Willinsky 33-166, Smithtro 5-41, Layo 4-40, Gouse 8-26, N. Willinsky 3-15, Roberts 0-9, Team 4-(-26). Purchase Line, Kordish 6-24, Bartlebaugh 7-16, Frantz 1-2, Layden 4-(-15).
Passing--Portage, Gouse 4-10-0-45. Purchase Line, Layden 3-10-0-37, Mountain 0-1-0-0
Receiving--Portage, Layo 2-40, Kick 1-7, Koban 1-(-2). Purchase Line, Houser 2-25, Bartlebaugh 1-12.