The Portal Panthers played under the Friday night lights at the Portal Athletic Complex for the final time this season. They faced off with the Savannah Bluejackets in a makeup game from earlier this season. The Panthers came away with a 20-6 win.
By the end of the 4th quarter, it was a party in P-Town. The Band was playing, the crowd was cheering and the fellas were celebrating on the field.
First Quarter: Portal connects first after strange opening
The game started in a very unique way when Portal opted to get the ball first. The Savannah kicker set up for the opening kickoff and he barely connected when he sent it off. The ball rolled about a yard from the tee and there was a pause. Fans from the stands were screaming for Portal to pick up and run, but when one of the Panthers grabbed it they were pounced on by a host of Bluejackets. The ball came loose and Savannah recovered it.
The way too early turnover wasn't that bad of an issue as Portal forced a punt on Savannah's first drive. When the Panthers took offense, they established the run game with a committee consisting of Samari Mcbride, Chase Smith, and Harold Washington. Washington picked up a 3rd and medium with a 10 yard run to extend the drive. The very next play, Smith was able to plow through the defense for a gain of 20 yards. This ultimately set up Mcbride to take a handoff to the right edge and race to the endzone for the game's first score.
Second Quarter: The two teams trade blows
After trading punts, Portal found themselves making another drive down the field midway through the second quarter. On 3rd and long, Portal's Freshman Waylon Martin rolled out of the pocket to deliver a strike to Washington down the right side of the field. A few plays later, Cooper Motes found some room and rumbled towards the goalline before he was stopped at the 1. Smith was able to punch in a quarterback keeper to make the score 12-0.
Savannah was able to respond instantly when Frank Frazier returned the kickoff all the way back to house to cut the lead to 12-6. Portal's Washington tried to one-up Frazier with a kick return of his own, but was ultimately caught at the Bluejackets' 49-yard line. Portal used the run game to once again move into scoring position. With an opportunity at the 3-yard line to go up by 2 scores, the Panthers put the ball on the ground and turned it over. Portal would go into the half up 12-6.
Third Quarter: The Panthers get a cushion
Savannah's first drive saw them dink and dunk down the field with short passes. Poor tackling by Portal led to several run after catch opportunities for the Bluejackets. However, the Panthers were able to make a stand at the goal line and force a turnover on downs.
If it ain't broke then don't fix it is how the saying goes. For Portal, the run game was working all game, so they kept going to it. They moved the chains by controlling the line of scrimmage before Washington got loose for a 23-yard rushing touchdown to give his team a two-score cushion.
Fourth Quarter: Portal closes out the season
After a strong performance on both sides by Portal, Kobi Burroughs put the finishing touches on the game with an interception late in the 4th quarter. Washington wanted to strike up the band one last time as he almost scored from 43 yards out. He was corralled at about the 15-yard line.
Portal picked up their 4th win of the season in the final game. Head Coach Jason McEachin met with his guys for one last time. "We got to end the season the way we wanted to, with a win," McEachin said. "Not everyone can close out the season with a W."
Emotions for the seniors set in after the game as the realization that they would never play football for Portal again. Coach McEachin told the seniors that they may be graduating, but they will never stop being family. He pulled each of the seniors aside and had words for them.
With a bunch of players expected to return for next season, McEachin called for them to use this season as fuel for next year.
Portal ends their season with 4 wins and 6 losses.