Box Score

By Andy Close

BRADFORD – It’s difficult to beat a team three times in one season, but Port Allegany made it look easy on Saturday.

Matt Bodamer threw for 275 yards and six touchdowns, eclipsing several milestones in the process, and the Gators scored 42 straight points to dispose of Brockway for the third time this season, 49-21 in the District 9 Class A semifinals at Bradford’s Parkway Field.

With the win the Gators (11-1) will get a chance to avenge their loss in the title game a year ago to Curwensville.

“They really took it to us early,” said Port Allegany coach Matt Bodamer. “As usual we struggled in the first quarter. I had to yell at Matt a few times but he snapped out of it.”

Bodamer, who went over 3,000 yards passing for the season, certainly snapped out of it, thanks in large part to his talented group of receivers.

One of those receivers, Nick Conway, has gone largely unheralded throughout the season, but made his presence known on this day.

With the score tied at 7-7 after a Tom Vervoort touchdown run and a Bodamer connection with Charlie Buchanan, Conway went to work. Facing a first and ten from the Brockway 19, Conway had one-on-one coverage on the outside against Brockway’s Ryan States. Conway was able to beat States off the line, and Bodamer did the rest, placing the ball right in Conway’s lap for a score and a lead Port never relinquished.

“Nick was out for the first part of the year and we have been trying to work him in,” Bodamer said. “He’s probably the fastest guy we have.”

What Conway did next, however, showed that he has more than just speed.

Brockway QB Kyle Braun connected with Anthony Benson on a catch to the 40-yard line, but Benson was rocked on a hard hit from Conway that dislodged the football. Tyce Miller recovered the fumble and put Port back in business.

Like they have done all season, the Gators made the opposition pay for coughing up the ball. It was the Bodamer to Conway combination that struck again five plays later on a 13-yard pitch and catch that made it 21-7 going into halftime.

“The kids just had to get used to the adjustments that they (Brockway) made,” Bodamer stated. “When they brought pressure we hit the quick passes, and when they dropped back into coverage Matt had all day to throw.”

Brockway, knowing that they were facing an uphill battle, attempted an onside kick to start the second half. Phil Esposito’s attempt actually deflected off a Port player and squirted loose, but the Gators ultimately recovered.

The Port Allegany offense made quick work of the short field, as Bodamer found another won of his weapons, tight end Rickie Bova for a 19-yard gain to the Brockway 14. Two plays later, Bodamer threw a one-yard TD strike to Buchanan that put the advantage at 27-7.

“We just wanted to score and get the job done when we had to,” Bodamer noted.

They certainly did that and then some.

On their next offensive possession, Buchanan caught his third touchdown pass of the day, which was followed by Trevor Neal’s TD catch from Bodamer, his sixth and final scoring connection of the day, that put the score at 42-7.

Buchanan’s three scores puts him at 13 receiving touchdowns on the season, one behind Miller for the team lead.

Bodamer, on top of going over 3,000 yards on the season, now has 41 touchdown passes, just the fifth QB in Pennsylvania history to do so. He passed former Seton-La Salle and Pitt QB Bill Stull, who had 40, and is 9 behind Kyle Smith (Lancaster Catholic, 2009, 50) for the all-time mark and eight back of Chad Kroell of Clearfield for the District 9 record.

Brockway added a couple of late scores with freshman Jack Glasl at QB. Glasl threw both of his touchdowns to Braun, who made the move from QB to receiver late in the game. Trey Miller also added a late touchdown run for Port.

Tyce Miller led Port with 95 yards receiving, putting him over 1,000 for the season. Nick Budd had a big game on defense with 13 tackles and two sacks, while Brock Taylor had 11 tackles and Conway seven.

Vervoort finished with 121 yards rushing on 17 carries.

The Gators now face Clarion, who beat Coudersport 27-7 in the second semifinal, for the District 10 championship. The Bobcats may be the number one seed, but the way Port has played they certainly feel like they are the team to beat.

“This has been our goal all year,” Bodamer said of his team, which will look to win its first ever District title. “I like our chances against anybody.”

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Brockway.