By Andy Close

PORT ALLEGANY – In a game that featured District 9’s leading passer and rusher, it was Port Allegany and QB Matt Bodamer that stole the show.

Bodamer threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 81 more yards at the Gators won in impressive fashion on a warm Saturday afternoon, 35 -13.

“Offensively we expect to move the ball every week,” said Port Allegany coach Mike Bodamer. “We have kids that can catch the ball and we found a little bit of a running game today.”

The game was special for both Bodamer and Alex Holland, as Bodamer went over 4,000 yards passing for his career, with Holland surpassing the same total on the ground.

While Holland also has another monster day statistically, running for 279 yards on 38 carries, it was the Port Allegany aerial attack that stole the show.

The Gators jumped all over the Golden Tide early, leading 13-0 at halftime and 21-0 after Bodamer found Tyce Miller for a 20 yard touchdown catch, with Miller breaking several tackles along the way.

But just when it looked like Port Allegany  could put the game on cruise control, Holland and the Golden Tide responded.

Holland took the handoff on the first play of the ensuing Curwensville possession, broke a tackle and raced down the left sideline for 65-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-7.

“You can see it in that kid’s (Holland) eyes that look that says no one is going to bring me down,” Bodamer stated. ‘They are never out of it with a kid like him.”

They certainly weren’t out of it after Port Allegany fumbled on their next set of downs, giving Curwensville a short field to work with from the Gators 47.

Holland made sure the Gators would pay, breaking off a 35-yard run to the Port 11-yard line, and two plays later breaking loose from nine-yards out to shrink the Port lead to eight, 21-13.

Just when it appeared that Curwensville had stole the momentum, Bodamer stepped up once again and showed why he has thrown for over 4,000 yards just three games into his junior season.

After the team’s exchanged failed possessions, the Gators took over at the Curwensville 46. Port drove the ball to the Curwensville 27, where they faced a second-and-ten.

As Bodamer dropped backed and rolled to his right, he was met by a swarm of Curwensville defensive lineman. He then scampered to his left, where it looked like the Golden Tide had him bottled up. Somehow, he squeezed through the pressure, stepped up and threw a strike to a wide open Charlie Buchanan, who walked into the endzone for his third score of the day.

“You don’t coach that,” said coach Bodamer. “When he scrambles he sees the whole field and the receivers break off the  patterns and do a nice job of getting open downfield. “

That play had the crowd and the Curwensville defense gasping, and the Gators once again back in control.

The Golden Tide tried to mount another comeback, but Buchanan intercepted Curwensville QB Hunter McCracken’s pass in the endzone to stall a promising drive for the Golden Tide.

Trent Neal, showing off the running game that coach Bodamer talked about, then broke off a 63-yard touchdown run, dragging defenders with him in the process to put the game out of reach at 35-13.

“We got up 21-0 and kind of let up a little bit, but overall I was very pleased,” Bodamer noted.

Port Allegany jumped on top right from the get-go, with Bodamer finding Buchanan for his first score of the day on a nicely executed wheel route that made it 7-0 less than two minutes into the game.

The duo hooked up in the second quarter on a seven-yard pitch and catch that capped a six-play, 75-yard drive to make it 13-0.

Buchanan caught three touchdown passes in a game for the second time this season, also accounting for three scores in a Week 1 win against Ridgway.

While a win against the Golden Tide, who beat Port 37-21 in the Class A title game a season ago, Bodamer knows that there is still a long way to go.

“I told the kids to enjoy it today and forget about it tomorrow,” said Bodamer. “This is just a step in the process and there is a good chance we will see them again down the road.”

The Gators look to remain unbeaten when they host Elk County Catholic next Saturday, while Curwensville travels to Otto-Eldred Friday.

Score by Quarters

Curwensville   0          0          13        0-13

Port Allegany  7          6          8          14-35

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

PA – Charlie Buchanan 22 pass from Matt Bodamer (Scott Brookens kick) 9:27

Second Quarter

PA – Buchanan 7 pass from Bodamer (Kick failed) 4:37

Third Quarter

PA – Tyce Miller 20 pass from Bodamer (Bodamer run) 9:32

CUR – Holland 65 run (Spencer Smeal kick) 9:23

CUR – Holland 9 run (Kick failed) 6:20

Fourth Quarter

PA – Buchanan 27 pass from Bodamer (Bad snap) 8:41

PA – Trent Neal 63 run (Bodamer to Rickie Bova)

Team Stats

                                    PA                   C

First Downs                15                    17

Rushes-Yards              21-180             48-297

Passing Yards             206                  21

Comp.-Att.-INT                      13-22-1                        2-12-1

Total Yards                 386                  318

Punts-Avg.                  2-37.5              1-37.0

Fumbles-Lost              2-1                   2-1

Penalties-Yards                       2-20                 4-30

Individual stats – Rushing: Port – Trent Neal 9-90, Matt Bodamer 9-81, Trey Miller 2-9. Curwensville – Alex Holland 38-279, Brad Coudriet 3-9, Josh Greslick 4-20, Jesse Zorger 2 (-)-12, Hunter McCracken 1-1

Passing: Port – Matt Bodamer 13 of 22, 206 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT. Curwensville – Hunter McCracken 2 of 12, 21 yards, 1 INT

Receiving: Port – Charlie Buchanan 7-94, Tyce Miller 3-54, Trevor Neal 1-25, Trent Neal 1-13, Rickie Bova 1-20. Curwensville – Brad Coudriet 1-14, Jesse Zorger 1-7