By Andy Close

PORT ALLEGANY – It took the high-powered Port Allegany offense a little time to get warmed up, but once they did there was no slowing them down.

Featuring a newly discovered running game and the steady play of QB Matt Bodamer, the Gators erupted for 22 second quarter points en route to a 37-8 win over playoff newcomer Union in the 2-7 Class A quarterfinal game Saturday at Port Allegany.

In back-to-back games, Port has scored a combined 56 points in the second quarter of play, including last week’s 34-point outburst that blew open their AML title game win over Brockway.

“We didn’t really settle in until the second quarter,” said Port Allegany coach Matt Bodamer. “We had way too many mistakes early, but fortunately we started to calm down a little bit.”

The Gators, now 10-1 on the season, got the ball at their own 33 early to start the second quarter. Bodamer completed passes to Trevor Neal and Rickie Bova and also took off on a couple of nifty runs, the second of which covered 19 yards to the Union eight. Trey Miller eventually capped the 10-play, 67-yard drive, which included eight running plays, with a two-yard plunge to make it 6-0.

“We actually had more run plays than pass plays today,” noted Bodamer. “After our game Sheffield and the weather the way it is we realized we had to get the run game going.”

While the run game has gotten going for Port, it is still the Gators ability to throw the ball that separates them from opponents.

The Gators got the ball on the Union 44 to start their next drive and wasted no time scoring again. Bodamer, showing off his substantial arm strength, made a next-level type throw that Tyce Miller dove for and caught in the end zone.

“I couldn’t really see the whole thing, but that’s why Matt has so many yards is because those kids can catch the ball like that,” said Bodamer.

That throw seemed to break the backs of the Golden Knights (7-4), who were making their first ever District 9 playoff appearance.

 Port forced them into a three-and-out for the second straight possession, and then went back to work on offense. Bodamer, who had ample to time to throw in the pocket almost every time he dropped back, connected with Miller and Rickie Bova on back-to-back throws to once again put the Gators in scoring position.

“They’ve (offensive line) have been doing a great job all year,” Mike Bodamer stated. “We work extremely hard on our pass blocking and it shows.”

Bodamer called his own number from one yard out to finish the drive, giving Port a touchdown on its third straight possession for a 22-0 lead going into halftime.

“We definitely needed that one before halftime,” Mike Bodamer said.

The second half started much like the first ended, with a couple of three-and-outs from Union and a pair of scores from Port Allegany.

On a third-and-goal, Charlie Buchanan ran a quick slant and Bodamer hit him from eight yards out to up the advantage to 30-0. That play came after Bodamer, who threw for 246 yards and surpassed 6,000 passing yards in his career in the game, hooked up with Rickie Bova on a third and 24, with Bova dragging tacklers on his back for an additional ten yards after he caught the pass.

“He (Bova) doesn’t get the notoriety that Charlie (Buchanan) or Tyce (Miller) get but he probably has the best hands on the team,” Bodamer pointed out. “He ran really hard to day, broke a lot of tackles and is just a big, strong kid.”

Union added a late score after a Garrett Drabert TD run put the mercy rule into effect. Senior Austin Davis broke free around right end for a 92-yard run that ensured the Golden Knights could take a positive away from their first playoff experience.

Other than Davis’ run, which Port Allegany only had 10 players on the field for, and a failed fourth and goal attempt on their first drive, the Gators were able to keep Union in check. They forced five three-and-outs and ended another drive with Bodamer intercepting Taylor Smith.

“Our run defense has been very good the past five or six games,” Mike Bodamer said. “The offense gets all the press but we don’t give up many points.”

Next up for Port is a familiar foe, the Brockway Rovers. They have played Brockway twice this season, winning 40-30 in Week 2 and last week’s 56-27 AML title game triumph.

“I don’t know how you beat a team three times in one year, but we will try,” Bodamer concluded.

PORT ALLEGANY 37, UNION 8

By Quarters

Union                    0              0              0              8-8

Port Allegany     0              22           15           0-37

Scoring summary

Second Quarter

P – Trey Miller 2 run (Kick failed) 7:23

P – Tyce Miller 44 pass from Matt Bodamer (Bodamer to Bova 2-pt. conversion) 5:28

P – Bodamer 1 run (Bodamer 2-pt run) 1:12

Third Quarter

P – Charlie Buchanan 9 pass from Matt Bodamer (Bodamer to Bova 2-pt. conversion) 6:10

P – Garrett Drabert 1 run (Tyler Burr kick) 3:16

Fourth Quarter

U – Austin Davis 92 run (Austin Davis pass to Brody Shick) 7:18

Team Stats

                                                Port       Union

First Downs                        18           6

Rushes-Yards                     40-132   24-155

Passing Yards                     246         21

Comp-Att-Int                     18-27-0 6-11-1

Total Yards                          378         176

Fumbles-Lost                     1-1          1-1

Penalties-Yards                 3-15       6-44

Punts-Avg.                          1-29       4-29.5

Individual Stats

Rushing: Port Allegany: Matt Bodamer 16-53, Garret Drabert 8-37, Trent Neal 8-30, Trey Miller 6-18, Cory Burr 2-(-)6. Union: Austin Davis 8-124, Mikey Harris 5-17, Cody Kline 1-12, Taylor Smith 9-2

Passing: Port Allegany: Matt Bodamer 18 of 27, 246 Yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. Union: Taylor Smith 6 of 11, 21 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Receiving: Port Allegany: Tyce Miller 6-99, TD, Rickie Bova 7-96, Charlie Buchanan 3-24, Trevor Neal 2-27. Union: Mikey Harris 1-13,  Kaden McGregor 3-12, Austin Davis 1-0, Brandon Stitt 1-(-)4