Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
WILMINGTON — Portola’s historic football season entered uncharted territory Friday with exciting possibilities but its program values firmly in place.
“The (Pedigree) blueprint says to make a lasting impression,” Bulldogs coach Peter Abe told his players before the CIF Southern California Regional. “We don’t know if we’re ever going to be here again.”
“Why not go out and leave a … stamp on the state playoffs?” he added.
Portola certainly left its mark.
Defensive lineman Reggie Thorn made a diving tackle against King/Drew star Jahmir Torres on a 2-point conversion on the final play of overtime to seal a 35-34 victory for the Bulldogs in the Division 6-AA championship at Banning High.
The tackle clinched a dramatic comeback and sent Portola ( 9-6) to its first state final. The Bulldogs will face Arcata on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at Fullerton High.
“In the biggest of moments, the defense (that) struggled there a little bit, came up with the biggest play,” Abe said. “So proud of these guys. Looking forward to again making a lasting impression and hopefully we can take home that state title.”
King/Drew (10-5) opted to go for the win with Torres, who caught a touchdown on the previous play to continue his magnificent performance. The senior caught three touchdowns from Kennan Jackson, returned a fumble for a score and grabbed two interceptions.
Portola, known for its comebacks this fall, took its first lead on a 5-yard TD run by Timothy Grettenberg on the first possession of overtime. The PAT by Ishaan Kedia put the Bulldogs ahead 35-28.
On the final play of regulation, Portola forced overtime by blocking a 32-yard field attempt by King/Drew. Kaden Orosz dove to deflect the boot.
“They’ve been fighting all year,” Abe said of his team.
The Bulldogs’ comeback also included recovering from a major blow on the final play of the third quarter. As Portola appeared to convert a fourth-and-inches near mid-field, the ball came loose and Torres returned it 65 yards for a score and a 28-21 lead.
Grettenberg responded with a 3-yard TD run with just over two minutes left in regulation as Portola tied the score 28-28.
Portola tied the score three times in the first half as the teams went to intermission locked 21-21.
Grettenberg scored on a 3-yard TD run and Kedia added the PAT as the Bulldogs knotted the score 21-21 with 1:59 left.
Standout linebacker Maxwell Mapstone helped set up the score with a 42-yard reception from Nash Luper.
King/Drew’s offense mostly avoided Mapstone — the leading tackler in the Southern Section — by attacking with the pass in the first half.
Jackson operated from the spread formation with no running back early and often and passed for 334 yards and three TDs in the first two quarters.
The senior tossed touchdowns of 86 and 14 yards to Torres and a 79-yard strike to Jayden Mitchell.
Mapstone and Adam Nofal recorded sacks for Portola but Jackson had enough time to complete 11 of 14 passes.
The Bulldogs’ duo of Grettenberg and Diego Reyna combined to rush for 123 yards in the first half.
King/Drew played without defensive lineman and SMU commit Chinedu Onyeagoro due to personal reasons, coach Joe Torres said.
Portola advanced to the CIF SoCal Regional by capturing its first CIF-SS title with an impressive run in Division 11.
The Bulldogs, the runner-up in the Omicron League, knocked off No. 1 seeded Don Lugo in the first round and went on to defeat El Rancho 31-14 in the finals last season.
Portola’s inspired postseason run came after an 0-5 start in the nonleague portion of its schedule.
For a Portola program that only began varsity football in 2018, it’s been a breakout fall and it’s not over.
Leave a Reply