PORT ALLEGANY RALLIES TO BEAT SHEFFIELD

Oct. 23, 2004

Sheffield led 7-0 at halftime and 14-7 in the third quarter before Port Allegany ran off the final 16 points to get the win.

The Wolverines (2-6) held two leads despite managing just 70 yards of total offense on the day and running just 29 plays to Port Allegany’s 65.

But the Gators (5-3) found themselves down twice because of a defensive touchdown and a kickoff return for a score.

Sheffield scored the lone first-half touchdown on an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown by Walt Elmquist. Port Allegany had driven to the Sheffield 15-yard line where it faced a fourth-and-2 that became a fourth-and-7 after a false start. Willie Bova’s pass was then picked off by Elmquist at the 20 and returned the distance for the score.

Port Allegany tied the score on a 4-yard Cody Anderson run in the third quarter that capped a 10-play, 77-yard drive for the Gators that saw Anderson gain 71 of the yards including a 52-yard run from the Port 26-yard line to the Sheffield 22-yard line.

But on the ensuing kickoff Scott Lazor went 83 yards to put the Wolverines back ahead 14-7.

Port Allegany got within a point, 14-13, at the end of the third quarter on a 7-yard run by Anderson that capped a 2-play, 16-yard drive. Sheffield’s Damir Carrol blocked the extra point.

The Gators got the short field after a 25-yard Sheffield punt, a 19-yard Port return, a 5-yard illegal fair catch signal by Port and a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Sheffield,

Disaster struck Sheffield on the first play following the kickoff by Steve Sixt fumbled the ball, and Jesse Loucks recovered for Port Allegany at the Sheffield 29-yard line.

That set up a 1-yard run by Wade Barber seven plays later that coupled with a 2-point conversion pass from Craig Flint to Cody Anderson gave Port Allegany a 21-14.

Things continued to go bad for Sheffield on the ensuing kickoff when Jamie Renninger muffed the kick and Bova recovered at the Sheffield 40-yard line.

The Gators were only able to gain five yards and were forced to punt. But Bova’s punt pinned Sheffield at its own 5-yard line.

Jeremy Borst then was called for intentional grounding from a pass attempt in the end zone resulting in a safety and a 23-14 Port lead.

After the free kick Port drove to the Sheffield 16 before being stopped on a fourth-and-1 play.

But Sheffield gained just four yards and four plays and Port Allegany was able to run out the clock to secure the win.

NOTES – The reason the win kept the Gators playoff hopes alive, despite Port Allegany clinching one of the top eight spots in Class A is because of a decision by the Gator coaching staff not to go to the postseason unless Port Allegany is 6-3. The Gators need to beat Elk County Catholic Saturday to make the postseason … Sheffield, which is not going to the postseason, has added a 10^th game two weeks from now against Warren County rival Eisenhower at Warren High School.