By Andy Close

BROCKWAY – The first three quarters of Saturday’s afternoon District 9 Class A semifinal game Port Allegany quarterback Matt Bodamer would rather forget. The final one he likely will remember for a long time.

Bodamer keyed a 16-play, 89-yard drive that was capped off by a Zach Ramadhan 1-yard touchdown run with 45 second remaining to lift the sixth-seeded Gators (7-4) past second-seeded Redbank Valley 24-17 at Brockway’s Frank Varischetti Field.

"Halftime we decided that Matt just wasn't in the game throwing wise, so we decided that we were just going to run it," said Port Allegany head coach Mike Bodamer. "We told him that we were going to switch him from a passing quarterback to a running quarterback and he responded."

Respond he did rushing for 28 yards on the game-winning drive while also throwing a 23-yard pass to Tyce Miller. The play was inside the 10, but a block in the back penalty moved it back to the 31.

No matter, as Ramadhan carried the ball on four straight plays down to the 1-yard line to set up his game-winning score. The drive in total took 8:12 off the clock.

"I know that they were keying on Seth (Lowery), but Zach really stepped up and ran the ball well," Bodamer said.

Trailing 17-7 at halftime, the Gators wasted no time in turning the momentum. With Redbank Valley backed up at its own 4-yard line after a poor return to start the half, Camrin Stuckey got to Bulldog running back Kyle Lee on a pitch and tackled him in the end zone for a safety.

"We had been yelling all week that when they bring that motion the safety has to come up. and Camrin listened and came flying up and made a play," noted Bodamer.

Matt Bodamer was intercepted on the ensuing possession for Port, giving the Bulldogs, who finished their season with a record of 6-6, the ball at their own 47. Redbank drove the ball down to the Port 9, but the Gator defense stepped up again stopping the Bulldogs on four straight downs.

Lowery took over from there, rushing for 40 yards on an eight-play, 90-yard drive that he capped off with a 4-yard plunge in the final minute of the third quarter. Bodamer completed to Miller for a successful two-point conversion and the game was tied at 17.

Redbank had control early in the game limiting Port to zero first downs in the first quarter, while Keaton Delp scored on a 6-yard run to make it 7-0 late in the first.

Stuckey struck big to begin the second, however.

Facing a fourth-and-7 from their own 43, Stuckey ran to his left on a fake punt, cut back at the 50-yard line to his right and was off to the races on a 57-yard touchdown run.

"We told Camrin if you read it then take off," Bodamer stated. "He is just an athlete and that's what he can do for you."

Redbank answered right back, as Brandon Bain found a wide-open Kyle Lee on a 49-yard strike to make it 14-7.

Bain booted a 37-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in the first to make it 17-7.

Bodamer finished 78 yards rushing on 14 carries and was 4-for-11 through the air for 36 yards and three interceptions.

Stuckey had 58 yards on two carries, while Ramadhan collected 83 yards and Lowery 48 yards on 16 carries.

For Redbank, Bain was 8-for-18 passing for 170 yards, with one touchdown  and two interceptions. Lee finished with 85 yards on 16 carries and three receptions for 134 yards.

NOTES - Port Allegany, which is looking for its first-ever District 9 title, is in the title game for the first time since losing to Clarion-Limestone in Class A in 2003.

PORT ALLEGANY 24, REDBANK VALLEY 7

Score by Quarters

Port Allegany 0 7 10 7 – 24

Redbank Valley 7 10 0 0 – 17

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

R— Keaton Delp 6 run (Brandon Bain kick), 4:42

Second Quarter

P — Camrin Stuckey 57-run (Kenny Kysor kick) 11:41

R — Zach Lee 49 pass from Bain (Kysor kick), 8:40

R — Bain 37 field-goal :12

Third Quarter

P — Stuckey tackled Lee in end zone (Safety) 11:44

P — Seth Lowery 4 run (Bodamer to Tyce Miller 2 pt conversion) :13

Fourth Quarter

P — Ramadhan 1 run (Kysor kick) :45

Team Stats

P                      R

First Downs                            16                    12

Rushes-Yards                          43-266             31-96

Passing Yards                                     36                    170

Penalties-Yards                       5-51                 8-52

Fumbles-Lost                          3-0                   2-1