This post was originally published on this site
Portola Coach Peter Abe leads his team in a game against University this season. (PHOTOS: Fernando M.Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Coach Peter Abe’s team hosts Baldwin Park Friday night.
Portola High School’s football team has reached the semifinal round of the CIF playoffs for the first time in the program’s short history and will host Baldwin Park Friday night at 7 in a Division 11 match-up.
“Semifinals is huge for our program and another step in our development which is in only our seventh year of varsity football,” Portola Coach Peter Abe said Monday.
Portola’s first varsity game was Aug. 17, 2018 when the Bulldogs defeated Fairmont Prep 39-20 in a game that was covered by OC Sports Zone.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
“,”load_all”:false,”error_template”:”
{{ERROR}}
“,”inner_caption”:true,”caption_position”:”over”,”thumbs_position”:”bottom”,”arrow_position”:”inside”,”toolbar”:false,”infobar”:true,”show_smallbtn”:true,”idle_time”:false,”click_content”:false,”click_slide”:false,”click_outside”:false,”animation_duration”:false,”transition_duration”:false,”small_btn_template”:”“}” data-parsed-attrs=”{“id”:”182594″,”cache”:true}”>
The Bulldogs (6-6) advanced to the semifinal round for the first time with a 14-10 road victory over Santa Paula in the quarterfinals. Baldwin Park (7-5) moved on with a 28-21 win over Big Bear in a game played in snowy conditions in Big Bear.
Portola was the No. 2 team from the Omicron League while Baldwin Park was the No. 3 team from the Valle Vista League. The winner of the semifinal moves on to face the winner of the other semifinal between San Gorgonio and El Rancho. Portola won a coin flip and would be the home team if its reaches the championship game either Friday, Nov. 29 or Saturday, Nov. 30.
After going 0-5 in non-league play, Portola finished strong in league, then captured two playoff wins, including a 31-20 victory over top-seeded Don Lugo on the road.
“Year in and out, the Bulldogs stay dedicated to improvement in the areas that will consistently put us in position to achieve our goals. Big exciting games, playing well; all the bi-product of the work guys have put in to earn the right to be proud and confident and continue to grow our program around our Bulldog Pedigree values,” Abe said. “We take deliberate steps and drown out the noise. We are locked in on controlling what we can control and take pride in.
“We’ve got guys that believe in each other, our program. And a community, staff, and administration that supports us. We couldn’t ask for a better spot to play or coach football and get top notch education. Our staff couldn’t be more proud of the heart, perseverance and grit our boys have demonstrated since the start of the season, going 0-5 to start and then 6-1 to finish thus far.
“But those that know/follow the game, know that that’s not tough when statistically and physically the Bulldogs have gotten better and better throughout the season.”
In Friday’s win over Santa Paula, Portola’s senior quarterback Nash Luper completed 5 of 9 passes for 76 yards and two touchdown passes, Timmy Grettenberg, a junior, rushed for 126 yards on 14 carries and Diego Reyna had 78 yards rushing on 16 carries and two receptions for 11 yards. On defense, Reyna had five total tackles, one sack and one hurry.
In addition, Adam Nofal had six total tackles, two sacks and two hurries; Reggie Thorn had six total tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and two hurries; Maxwell Mapstone had 12 total tackles and one tackle for a loss; Kaden Orosz three total tackles and one interception; and Sami Tawfik eight total tackles and .5 sacks.
Abe said the defense was “stout” and it was “another big night for the big dawgs up front on the line with both Grettenberg and Reyna carrying the rock for over 200 yards and Luper threw for two touchdowns, one to Anthony Riccardi in the third quarter opening drive and other to sophomore Blaise Williams in the fourth.
“We were down (3-0) at halftime following a failed fourth down conversion that Reyna was just inches short of, and other was stalled drive in red zone with Interception.”
Abe and his staff began preparing for Baldwin Park over the weekend.
“They’re loaded with talent and speed, and playing some good football at this late stage of the season,” Abe said. “How can you not be excited to play a team like that in the playoffs? Wouldn’t want it any other way. To get to the finals, we will need to play our best game yet. We want to continue to improve as we work to earn another program first at Portola. Looking forward to another exciting game in the Junkyard Friday night.”
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
