Portland secured a convincing 35-14 victory against their arch-rival Deering in the Class A North semifinals, setting the stage for a regional final against Bangor next week. The game took place on October 3, showcasing the defending Class A champions” determination to advance.
Despite the significant win, Portland players felt they left room for improvement. Junior Alex Martin remarked, “We did good, but there”s a lot left in the tank. We should”ve played a little harder in the second half.” He added that playing against Deering is always special given their shared history and rivalry.
As the top seed in Class A North with an 8-2 record, Portland will face third-seeded Bangor, which holds a 6-4 record. Meanwhile, Deering concludes its season with a 4-6 mark after a hard-fought battle.
The Bulldogs established control early, leading 28-0 by halftime. However, first-year head coach Nick Cliche noted that the team struggled with discipline, accumulating several unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during the match. “We had a ton of penalties, especially in the first half. It kept some drives going for them,” Cliche explained. He emphasized the need for greater discipline if the team aims to pursue another state championship.
Portland”s scoring began with a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cordell Jones to Jake Johnson, followed by Martin recovering a Deering fumble and sprinting 53 yards for a touchdown. Martin later added a 17-yard touchdown run, and Jones capped the half with a 9-yard run, bringing the score to 28-0.
Deering coach Brendan Scully had warned his players about the importance of avoiding turnovers, a message underscored by a Johnson interception in the end zone that halted a promising Rams drive early in the second quarter. “You can”t make mistakes against a good team,” Scully stated, reflecting on the game.
After being shut out 34-0 by Portland in the regular season, Deering found the end zone when quarterback Jordan DiBiase scored on a 33-yard run in the third quarter. Portland responded with another touchdown from Jones, followed by Deering”s Zade Smith adding a 5-yard touchdown run to conclude the scoring.
Despite the playoff defeat, Deering will have another opportunity to face Portland in their annual Thanksgiving game scheduled for three weeks from now. Scully mentioned plans for a brief break before returning to practice to prepare for that matchup. “We”ll come back and do the game plan, then a couple, three days (of practice) the following week,” he said.
For the Bulldogs, however, the Thanksgiving game is not the immediate focus. “One by one, day by day,” Martin said as he looked ahead.
