Small roster not a problem for Port coach
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
Port Allegany is enjoying the best high school football season in its program history and will try to cap off a 14-0 start with a win over Bishop Guilfoyle Academy today in the PIAA Class 1A championship at Cumberland Valley High School at 1 p.m.
"Football is a lifeblood of our community," Port Allegany coach Justin Bienkowski said. "We are very much supported by our community and our administration. I'm a transplant. I moved here 22 years ago, but through football I've met a lot of new people. This town is definitely breathing through this football team right now, and it's really cool to see. We're 24 strong in pads for the state title game. Fort Cherry had nearly 50. BG has a ton. Everyone seems to have enough kids, but we like the ones we've got."
The most recognizable player for the Gators is junior running back Aiden Bliss, who has 300 carries for 3,180 yards and 53 touchdowns this season. For his career, he's already had 4,818 yards and 84 touchdowns. He's the 14th player in PIAA history to rush for 3,000 yards in a season.
"I would definitely say it's everything together," Bienkowski said. "Aiden's abilities are unique. He's a very powerful runner as a three-sport athlete. He's earned everything and is a weight-room kid. We have some studs up front, and that's where we pride our program with our offensive and defensive lines. It's a combination of multiple different hats that have allowed us to still be alive."
One of those linemen jumped out to Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler.
"(Carson Neely), he's a Clarion commit in wrestling as a heavyweight," Wheeler said. "They move him around a lot. He plays running back, guard and tackle. He's been unblockable from what we have seen on film. He has about 50 pancake blocks. He's about as good of an offensive lineman as we've ever seen. He has speed and balance. It's going to be difficult. Yards will be hard to come by, but hopefully we can rely on our skill players to make something happen after the catch through the air."
The Marauders are coming off a PIAA semifinal win over Muncy in which Indians running back Austin Johnson, who is also a Division I wrestler, ran for 189 yards. But Johnson had just 27 in the second half.
"These last two weeks, these running backs we're facing, both were around 3,000 yards, and especially this Bliss kid is that perfect balance between power and speed," Wheeler said. "They run stuff to the outside and run away from people, but between the tackles, they are running over defensive linemen. They are special kids, and any time they touch the ball, they can take it all the way. I thought our defense last week did a great job swarming to the ball, and we're going to have to do an even better job this week."
That's because Wheeler has a lot of respect for the Gators' line.
"The lines are a little different," Wheeler said. "Port Allegany's line is a little bigger and a little more physical. Although Muncy was good, they have some guys on their line that are 280 or 305 and get down the field really well."
Bishop Guilfoyle is attempting to win its fifth PIAA football title in its sixth appearance with the lone loss coming 10-7 in overtime to Farrell.
"Make no mistake, this is their (sixth) state title appearance in about a decade," Bienkowski said. "I coached with Coach Wheeler in the East-West game seven or eight years ago, and he's a very strong football dude. He runs a legit program, but what can you say about Bishop Guilfoyle? (Hamilton Gates) and (Joe Eckenrode) jump off the tape right away. They are physical and want to establish the line of scrimmage, and they can throw it a bit. People keep asking me what I think, but it's the state championship game. Everyone is good this time of the year."
Port Allegany is playing in the state final for the first time but has been very good the last three seasons, compiling a 36-5 mark over that stretch.
"It was a pretty special night for us to beat Fort Cherry to go to the final," Bienkowski said. "It's still pretty surreal and obviously new for our program and unchartered waters. Our community has been phenomenal. Typical small-town, things you see out of a movie almost. It's been really neat for our kids to experience it."
Those waters have Marauders in it this week. The seniors on the team won a state title in 2021, and many of the coaches have been part of all six trips.
"We have experience with the shorter week and the preparation," Wheeler said. "We're making sure our kids are prepared and not facing any distractions. It's exciting, it always is, but it's nice to have a blueprint of doing it before."
Bienkowski expects a lot of hometown support for his Gators.
"It's probably safe to say that if you wanted to break into someone's house on Thursday, you'd probably have a safe bet," Bienkowski said. "No one is going to be around. The school is behind us. The community is behind us. I told the kids to take it all in and enjoy everything about it. But we still have a job to do, and we're still not done."
Port Allegany has only thrown 81 passes this season, which means BG will be stacking its line against Bliss.
"We're going to need our best effort to win," Wheeler said. "Hopefully our front seven, eight or in some cases nine can give us a good chance. We have to limit the big plays in the running game and try to get some stops. This team doesn't want to throw. I thought last week, Muncy could have thrown, but this week they have a freshman QB they don't ask to throw much. For us to win, we have to get stops and convert on offense and put them in situations where they are forced to throw."