Port Allegany’s Bliss Runs Over Central Clarion
Tagged under: District 9, Gameday Hub, News
Billy Splain | September 6, 2025
PIt is very rare to watch two state finalists meet during the regular season the very next year, and it has never happened in District 9 until last night. That is when Port Allegany (Class 1A state runner up from a year ago) met Central Clarion (Class 2A runner up in 2024) at Larry Wiser Field in Clarion. The visiting Gators used a solid run game and a swarming defense to down Central Clarion 27-14.
The jam packed house saw some pretty good football with the outcome in doubt until late in the fourth quarter. “It was an overall team win. It’s a great group of kids who deserve success,” stated Port’s head coach Justin Bienkowski. Port rushed for 345 yards for the contest and limited Central Clarion to 223 total yards for the whole game.
The number one star of the game was all-state running back, Aiden Bliss. He ran for 203 yards on 28 carries and 3 scored touchdowns. Bliss had this to say about the game, “Obviously early in the season we saw this (game) on our schedule. We’re like that’s the game we all want to prove it, right. We don’t look for a ton of attention but this is one of those things we were definitely going after. We wanted to make a statement.”
Port Allegany came out right off the bat and made a statement when they used up almost seven minutes to open the scoring on Aiden Bliss’s one yard plunge. Mr. Bliss ran the ball 9 times out of 13 total plays on the Gator’s opening drive. Jarrod Funk nailed the PAT and the visiting Port Allegany Gators led 7–0.
Central Clarion, who averaged good field position to start drives all night, began their first at their own 39. But the Wildcats’ first possession stalled at Port’s 38 yard line with only 57 seconds left in the first quarter.
Later, the Wildcat second drive started on their own 45 yard line after they held Port Allegany on a fourth down try. This time they hit pay dirt by driving 55 yards in 11 plays. The 10-yard touchdown came on a fourth down pass from Carter Hindman to Ethan Rex who grabbed the ball sandwiched between two Gator defenders. Logan Bish tied the game with his point after kick.
But there was four and a half minutes left in the half. More than enough time for Bliss and Company. Six plays netted 49 yards for Port Allegany and put the ball on the Wildcat 26. Then Bliss did his thing busting through the line with a head of steam that no one was going to stop. The point after was botched due to a bad snap and Port led 13-7, a lead that held up when the horn sounded to end the second quarter.
Central Clarion appeared to make a couple adjustments as they came out and belted Port in the mouth by scoring in just 3 plays. Alex Love did the honors by traversing the final 30 yards to put the home on top for the first and last time, 14-13.
Port Allegany’s next drive stalled when a holding penalty nullified a first down pass. But Central Clarion went three and out to give the football back to the visiting team.
This time Port went 57 yards on six plays, scoring on Bliss’s third TD of the game. His 27-yard dash down the sidelines gave his team the lead back at 19-14 with a pair of seconds remaining in quarter number three.
The key to the whole game came next. Central Clarion drove to the Gator 12-yard line and faced second and two to get another first down, but Port Allegany’s defense was challenged by their coaches and they responded by stuffing three straight runs for a net of zero yards. “The defensive stop was huge,” said Bliss, “That was something earned in the weight room. That’s what it’s all about.”
On the Port first play from scrimmage, Kellen Veilleux found a seam, made some moves, and was off to the races going 87 yards for the touchdown to give his team some breathing room. He also ran in the two-point conversion that made the score 27-14 which turned out to be the final. Veilleux rushed for 114 yards on 7 totes.
Bliss had nothing but praise for his teammates singling out Veilleux and lineman Ethan Tarbox. This is what he said of Veilleux’s effort. “Whew! My goodness that was huge. Kellen was waiting for his turn. What was that an 80, 90 yard touchdown? That was nuts.” He added, “Ethan Tarbox has been a stud for us.”
Coach Bienkowski was doling out praise too, “It got a little rough in the third quarter, but when you have 31 (Bliss) in the backfield who will block for guys, do his thing when he gets the ball in his hands, do his thing when he plays quarterback, he’s a special athlete. I’ve been saying this for a number of years. I’m glad he’s on our side. He showed why he’s one of the premier players in District 9, one of the premier players in the state. On a big stage, packed house, he just played well, played really well.”
For Central Clarion, Ethan Rex had over 100 yards rushing the ball on 20 carries. The Wildcats 1-2 will host undefeated Punxsy next week at Clarion-Limestone.
Port Allegany will host Smethport next week. The Hubbers are 0-3.
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