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PORTAGE -- Through one half of Friday night's Heritage Conference matchup, Portage was keeping stride with District 6 contender Homer-Center.
The Mustangs trailed by just seven points at the break and were consistently moving the ball offensively against a Wildcats defense that allowed a little more than 16 points per game coming in.
However, three empty trips to the red zone proved costly for the Mustangs, as Homer-Center was able to tally 20 unanswered points in the second half for a 34-7 victory over Portage.
"Homer-Center is a top-tier team that is physical and well-coached," Portage coach Marty Slanoc said. "We knew we would have to absorb some of their punches. Our kids fought very hard. We got down into the red zone multiple times but just couldn't finish.
"We made some mistakes, and that can be attested to some youth. I'm just so proud of our four seniors who played their last game on this field tonight. I wish we could've pulled it out for them."
Play of the game: Portage's Llehson Walker returned the opening kickoff 80 yards to the Homer-Center 13-yard line, but the Mustangs had their fourth down field goal attempt blocked by the Wildcats' Brady Frazer.
This was the first of three red zone stops for the Homer-Center defense. The Mustangs later reached the Wildcats' 9- and 1-yard lines on separate drives, but were unable to produce any points.
"Defensively, they made a couple of big plays in crucial situations where they caught us," Slanoc said. "They caught us with different fronts and alignments they were in, and that's a testament to them. They made the stops when they needed to."
Players of the game: The Wildcats' star tandem of Carson Arone and Gabe Cobaugh combined to rush for 320 yards and four touchdowns.
Being the only two Homer-Center players with a rushing attempt, Arone carried 21 times for 212 yards and two scores, while Cobaugh totaled 108 yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts.
Arone also threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Frazer in the fourth quarter. He attempted just two passes and completed both.
Most vital statistic: Homer-Center broke open a 14-7 halftime lead by scoring 20 unanswered points in the final two quarters.
Aside from the Mustangs' lone score, a 45-yard touchdown run by Walker, Portage mustered three turnovers on downs and three punts alongside its blocked field goal.
Homer-Center coach Greg Page: "With that opening kickoff, that's the best-case scenario you can get out of that situation. For us to come out of that zero-zero, that was huge. We had a few of those big stops that kept us in front. I'm proud of the way we stood tall."
Slanoc on the possibility of playing Bishop Guilfoyle next week in the playoffs if the Mustangs qualify: "They're a single-A team. They're in our bracket. They're a small school like us just trying to survive."
Notable: If Portage qualifies for the District 6 playoffs, it will be for the 13th time in the last 15 seasons. The official playoff rankings will not be announced until later this weekend.
Records: Homer-Center (8-2); Portage (4-6).
Next week: Homer-Center hosts a game in the District 6 Class 1A playoffs, while Portage would either travel to Bishop Guilfoyle in the District 6 Class 1A playoffs or its season will be finished.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Homer-Center 7 7 6 14 -- 34
Portage 0 7 0 0 -- 7
First Quarter
HC -- Cobaugh 2 run (Frazer kick), 2:07.
Second Quarter
HC -- Arone 7 run (Frazer kick), 9:19.
P -- Walker 45 run (Bednarski kick), 7:52.
Third Quarter
HC -- Cobaugh 1 run (Kick failed), 6:17.
Fourth Quarter
HC -- Frazer 24 pass from Arone (Frazer kick), 8:37.
HC -- Arone 62 run (Frazer kick), 5:42.
TEAM STATISTICS HC P
First downs 16 12
Total yards 343 204
Rushes-yards 41-320 29-120
Yards passing 23 84
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 2-2-0 12-21-0
Punts-avg. 1-40 3-34
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-0
Penalties-yards 2-15 1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Homer-Center, Cobaugh 20-108, Arone 21-212. Portage, Bagby 2-6, Burkett 6-1, Berardinelli 4-1, Walker 3-53, Simala 14-59.
PASSING--Homer-Center, Arone 2-2-23-1-0. Portage, Burkett 12-21-84-0-0.
RECEIVING--Homer-Center, Frazer 1-24, McAnulty 1-(-1). Portage, Slanoc 3-17, Berardinelli 2-21, Walker 1-4, Simala 4-28, Sciko 2-14.