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Small comes up big for Dragons! @PLRedDragons @PAStangFootball @Heritage_Confer

Tagged under: District 6, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News

| September 30, 2023

 

 

Small comes up big for Dragons!

Portage was a good team on a three-game losing streak. Purchase Line was maybe looking ahead to next week’s game against undefeated United Valley. In a game which almost lasted three hours the Dragons prevailed 38-27. Portage outplayed Purchase Line for most of the game, the Dragons however won the second and fourth quarters.  Every play in the first half was either for 50 yards, minus 2 or a penalty. Coaches Marty Slonac and Matt Falisec were using their entire play books. Portage loves to run the ball and run some more. Their first two plays were passes of course. The second going 63 yards from Easton Slonac to Bode Layo who just went straight down the field. PL went backwards on their first possession than converted a fake punt but had to punt again four plays later.  Both teams punted on their second drives. Issac Willinsky had a 55- yard touchdown run called back. The Dragons kept getting hit for 15-yard penalties and the Mustangs illegal procedure or holding. The Mustangs third drive lasted 2 plays. This time Willinsky went 47 yards and it counted. The Mustangs had all the momentum as we went to the second quarter. Portage would have the ball three times in the second quarter also. They fumbled, went backwards on a slew of penalties and had one play before going to the locker room at halftime. Purchase Line also had the ball three times and scored three touchdowns. A two-play drive, a one play drive and a 90-yard five-minute drive right before the half ended. Brock Small took a toss sweep and ran thru the Mustang defense for a 66-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. John Elick capped the second drive after the fumble recovery with a bruising 47-yard touchdown run. The Dragons than drove 90 yards and have the ball at the Portland 3 with no timeouts. A couple of passes right? Toss sweep to Small again who cut back against the grain and scored a perfect rugby try. It was 20-13 at the half with the Dragons up.

 

 

The Dragons got a good kickoff return to start the second half and drove inside the Mustang 30 but failed to score. Both teams punted and the momentum started to swing back to Portage.

Easton Slonac capped a 64-yard drive that saw the Mustangs just pound the Dragon left side. Coach Slonac went for two and the lead but the Dragons came up with a stop.

 

 

PL goes three and out and punts. Portage has the ball as the fourth quarter starts. The score on the first play a repeat of their first touchdown Slonac to Layo.

 

 

Nineteen seconds later the Dragons score on basically the same play Elick to Small for 55 yards. The conversion is wide and Portage still leads by one.

 

After a good return Portage started at the PL 44. They drove to the 25 where they were stuffed on fourth and short. Probably the play of the game. The PL crowd was into it. They were losing by one and 75 yards away but it seemed like they had just won.

 

The Dragons would drive 75 yards to take the lead when Elick ran in his second touchdown, but missed conversion kept lead at five.

 

 

Portage had to gamble on their next drive and were stopped at their own 20 on fourth down. Two plays later, Small scored again!

 

PL will have to be better next week in a must win situation against United Valley. Portage (2-4) is a good team. The Heritage Conference is stacked. A lot of people wrote Portage off after their loss to Marion Center. Marion Center isn’t a bad team. Homer-Center(2-4) isn’t a bad team either and that is who Portage faces at home next week.

Purchase Line 0-20- 0-18=38

Portage.         13-  0- 6- 8=27

P- Bode Layo 63 pass from Easton Slanoc xp Slanoc 11:44 (0-7)

P- Issac Willinsky 47 run xp short 28.6 (0-13)

PL- Brock Small 66 run xp Jakob Mountain 11:46 (7-13)

PL- John Elick 47 run 2pt run ng  9:08 (13-13)

PL- Small 3 run xp Mountain 0:18 (20-13)

P-  Slonac 4 run 2pt run ng 2:29 (20-19)

P- Layo 53 pass from Slonac 2pt pass Trent Nesbella from Slonac 11:55 (20-27)

PL- Small 55 pass from Elick xp wide 11:36 (26-27)

PL- Elick 3 run 2pt pass ng 4:44 (32-27)

PL-Small 16 run 2pt pass ng 2:18 (38-27)

Heritage Conference Scoreboard

Cambria Heights 27 Homer-Center 14

Northern Cambria 42 Conemaugh Township 23

River Valley 40 Marion Center 16

United Valley 14 Penns Manor 0

West Shamokin 42 Conemaugh Valley 6

 

For more game pics

follow me on Twitter @GregoryRicupero

or my FB page Gregory Ricupero Sports Network

Next week -I will be at Purchase Line as the Lions come to town.

But River Valley will be playing Northern Cambria both teams are 5-1.

Check out a Heritage Conference game near you.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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