By Bryan Swan

BROCKWAY — Port Allegany’s Matt Bodamer had a career night, passing for four touchdowns, running for three and adding another one on defense which ended with the Gators winning their first AML Title in 23 years following a 56-27 victory over Brockway Friday evening at Varischetti Field in Brockway. 

It’s Port Allegany’s first AML title since 1988, when the Gators defeated Ridgway, 19-14. 

Bodamer threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in the second quarter. His 41-yard interception return for a touchdown gave his team a 34-21 advantage with 54 seconds left before halftime. 

Bodamer threw for 286 yards on 18 of 34 passing with four touchdowns against two interceptions. He also rushed for 97 yards on 14 carries and two scores, including touchdown runs of 40 and six yards.

“He gets a lot of press,” Port Allegany head coach Mike Bodamer said of his son’s effort. “I don’t know how people take that, but there’s no other kid in the area that works harder than he does.

“The entire offseason he is in the gym throwing the ball, he’s out on the field throwing the ball. He lifts all the time. Whatever he gets he deserves.

“It feels great (to win the AML). The district title is the most important thing. That’s still our main goal. This is just icing on the cake. It’s just a great thing for the kids.”

The win clinched the second-seed in the upcoming District 9 Class A playoffs, where the Gators will open up against Union Saturday afternoon in Port Allegany.

The Gators exploded for 34 points in the second quarter to erase a 7-0 deficit into a 13-point lead against the defending champs. 

Port Allegany scored on four straight possessions, beginning with a 14-play, 64-yard drive that ended on an 8-yard run by Bodamer. 

Brockway answered back from deficits of 14-7 and 20-14. 

Kyle Braun broke free for a 62-yard touchdown run to even the score at 14. On the Rovers’ next possession, Braun hooked up with Levi Miller for a 61-yard pass down to the Port two. Miller scored two plays later from one yard out and Philip Esposito’s extra point put Brockway in front, 21-20 with 3:16 left in the half. 

But Brockway’s defense couldn’t slow Bodamer whose 40-yard run on Port’s ensuing possession regained the lead for the Gators, 28-21.

The Rovers tried to answer once again, but Braun’s pass was intercepted by Bodamer, who took it the other way 41 yards to the end zone, giving his team a 34-21 advantage at the half.

That ended up being the Rovers last chance to stick with Port Allegany. The Gators poured it on, scoring on three straight possessions between the third and fourth quarters as they were in total control, leading 56-21 with 9:19 remaining and the mercy rule in effect. 

“The wheels fell off in the back end and then we had some injuries back there,” Brockway head coach Mike Pisarchick said. “Things kind of got out of hand and it snowballed. 

“We got pressure on the quarterback, but we weren’t covering in the back end. That’s one of the hardest things in high school football, is to work on the back end. High school football is usually run heavy and the (defensive) backs just don’t get as much work. Hopefully we can rectify those problems in the future.”

With the exception of a few big plays, Port Allegany held Brockway’s offense in check. The Rovers finished with 347 total yards, but four plays combined for 241 of those yards. Three of those were scoring plays, and the other was Miller’s 61-yard reception. 

“The first couple series, we knew it was going to be tough,” Bodamer said. “They were going to run the ball hard. They just had to get used to the blocking, used to his (Tom Vervoort’s) running style. The first half, they scored those three on basically broken plays that shouldn’t have happened. 

“All week we yelled and screamed about basically team responsibility and playing your position. We didn’t do that. “At halftime, we had a little talk about team defense and what you’re supposed to do and we came out in the second half and did what you’re supposed to do.”

PORT ALLEGANY 56, BROCKWAY 27

Score By Quarters

Port     0          34        8          14        —        56

Brockway       7          14        0          6          —        27

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

B - Levi Miller 63 pass from Kyle Braun (Philip Esposito kick), 1:50.

Second Quarter

P - Matt Bodamer 3 run (Tyler Burr kick), 9:17.

P - Nick Conway 22 pass from Bodamer (Burr kick), 6:30.

B - Braun 62 run (Esposito kick), 5:36.

P - Trevor Neal 55 pass from Bodamer (Kick failed), 5:02.

B - Miller 1 run (Esposito kick), 3:16.

P - Bodamer 40 run (Bova from Bodamer), 2:21.

P - Bodamer 41 interception return (Kick failed), 0:54.

Third Quarter

P - Neal 2 pass from Bodamer (Bova from Bodamer), 1:24.

Fourth Quarter

P - Conway 7 pass from Bodamer (Burr kick), 10:30.

P - Bodamer 6 run (Burr kick), 9:19.

B - Brandon Morris 55 pass from Jack Glasl (Pass failed), 7:10.

         P          B

First Downs 20        10

Rushes-Yards           35-168 34-168

Passing Yards          286      179

Comp-Att-Int           18-34-2            3-7-2

Total Yardage          454      347

Punts-Average         3-34.3  5-33

Fumbles-lost 0-0       2-2

Penalties-Yards        4-35     5-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Port Allegany: Matt Bodamer 14-97, Trent Neal 10-61, Trey Miller 1-2, Johnny Sena 6-17, Garret Drabert 3-(-1), Cory Burr 1-(-8). Brockway: Tom Vervoort 20-78, Kyle Braun 7-77, Chad Melillo 2-(-11), Levi Miller 2-7, Anthony Benson 1-5, Jacob Foradori 1-1, Kyle Titler 1-11.  

Passing - Port Allegany: Matt Bodamer 18 of 34, 286 yards, 4 TDs, 2 Int. Brockway: Kyle Braun 2 of 6, 124 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int; Jack Glasl 1 of 1, 55 yards, 1 TD, 0 Int.

Receiving - Port Allegany: Charlie Buchanan 6-69, Trevor Neal 5-83, Nick Conway 3-39, Tyce Miller 2-73, Trey Miller 1-7, Rickie Bova 1-15, Brockway: Levi Miller 2-124, Brandon Morris 1-55. 

Interceptions - Port Allegany: Matt Bodamer, Victor Bandish. Brockway: Kyle Braun, Anthony Benson.