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PORTAGE -- Multiple giveaways doomed Portage against Heritage Conference foe United Valley on Friday night.
The Mustangs compiled five turnovers on offense, with three coming in the red zone, as Portage fell to the Lions, 31-0.
"We definitely can't turn the ball over like that," Portage coach Marty Slanoc said. "We had those opportunities to score. We got some stops and had some success moving the ball, we just didn't capitalize when we had the chance. That was the difference in the game."
Player of the game: Shaydon Oleksa headlined the Lions offense with 152 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries.
The junior put United Valley on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter before busting an 88-yard score in the second frame.
"It was a pretty important play for the movement of the game," Oleksa said of his long touchdown run. "Being right against our own goal line, that's tough. We got some space, and credit to our line, they made that happen."
Oleksa also put the nail in the coffin for United Valley when he returned the third Portage fumble 30 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Unsung heroes: The United Valley defense forced five Portage turnovers -- three fumbles and two interceptions.
Both picks stopped potential Mustangs scoring drives, as Ethan Luko and Brendan James both recorded interceptions at the Lions' 1 yard line. The Lions also recovered a fumble at their own 3.
"These boys go hard all week long," United Valley coach Lou McElwee said. "They love contact and they showed it tonight. It takes a lot of film study, too. Credit to Portage and Coach Slanoc, he always prepares his team well, but our defense came to play today."
Most vital statistics: United Valley held Portage to 146 total yards and one completed pass.
McElwee: "It's more about the guys being able to understand the X's and O's, as well as doing their jobs and executing those jobs. Earlier in the season, we weren't executing. It was one or two small mishaps, whether it was linemen missing a block or backs missing a hole. Now, they're playing loose because they understand the offense and know their assignments and keys on defense."
Slanoc: "We're going to get back to work. It's going to be senior night, and we're going to try and get back in the win column for those guys."
Oleksa: "We played great defensively. We take pride in playing well on defense and being sure we make the plays when it needs done. We play as hard as we can every play."
Notable: Llheson Walker led Portage offensively with 64 rushing yards and added a 41-yard reception ... The Mustangs have now dropped five straight games.
Records: United Valley (5-3), Portage (2-6).
Next week: United Valley takes on Penns Manor, Portage hosts Purchase Line.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
United Valley 7 10 7 7 -- 31
Portage 0 0 0 0 -- 0
First Quarter
UV -- Oleksa 2 run (Riffer kick), 7:06.
Second Quarter
UV -- Oleksa 88 run (Riffer kick), 3:35.
UV -- Riffer 43 field goal, :23.
Third Quarter
UV -- Szymusiak 34 pass from Worthington (Riffer kick), 5:25.
Fourth Quarter
UV -- Oleksa 30 fumble recovery (Riffer kick), 6:15.
TEAM STATISTICS UV P
First downs 16 8
Total yards 361 146
Rushes-yards 34-253 38-105
Yards passing 108 41
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 8-17-0 1-5-2
Punts-avg. 3-35 5-27
Fumbles-lost 1-1 4-3
Penalties-yards 5-55 3-20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- United Valley, Worthington 3-16, Lichtenfels 3-5, Oleksa 16-152, Garver 5-24, Verba 1-8, Szymusiak 6-48. Portage, Slanoc 9-21, Berardinelli 4-4, Walker 6-64, Gathers 3-(-9), Munyon 15-33, Burkett 1-(-8).
PASSING -- United Valley, Worthington 8-17-108-1-0. Portage, Slanoc 1-2-41-0-1, Burkett 0-1-0-0-1, Gathers 0-1-0-0-0.
RECEIVING -- United Valley, James 1-(-3), Good 1-10, Oleksa 1-5, Luko 3-56, Szymusiak 1-34, Lichtenfels 1-6. Portage, Walker 1-41.