Portola takes charge early and defeats Beckman 28-7 to post 5-0 record for first time

Portola quarterback Sonny Tierney drops back to pass as Beckman applies pressure. (Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Portola football team is serving notice to its opponents and the Pacific Hills League that the Bulldogs are for real.

With their nonleague 28-7 victory over Beckman Friday night at Portola High, the Bulldogs improved their record to 5-0, the first time in the program’s history Portola has achieved that milestone. In the process, Portola has been averaging 33 points per game and limiting its challengers to seven points per contest. Each of the Bulldogs wins this season have been by double digits.  

Nova Kebeli rushed for 128 yards and Sonny Tierney passed for two touchdowns to lead the Portola attack before a large crowd.

“We came out and played physical, we made some mistakes but we executed,” said Kebeli. “We have to come back next week more disciplined. We still have lots to work on.” 

Portola got off to a fast start by scoring two touchdowns within the first six minutes of the game. Tierney completed a 29-touchdown pass to Dean Berger to cap a 5-play, 51-yard drive to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. Three plays later, defensive back Zephyr Suri stepped in front of a Beckman pass and returned it 24 yards for a TD, increasing Portola’s lead to 14-0.

Berger left the game after injuring his shoulder after making a catch in the third quarter and did not return.

Following Portola’s second TD, the game was plagued with penalties for much of the remainder of the game. The Bulldogs had two touchdowns called back due to miscues. Late in the second quarter, defensive end Parker Olthoff scooped up a fumble and raced 31 yards into the end zone to up Portola’s lead to 21-0.

“We came to play but we have to keep practicing hard; when we don’t practice well during the week, it shows up on game day,” Olthoff said. “We feel we are the best team in Irvine and we know we can never underestimate our opponents.”    

Aiden Horn, Jayden Bullock, Adam Aly, Berger, Suri and Olthoff led a stubborn Bulldogs’ defense as they forced three first-half Patriots’ turnovers (four in the game) and held Beckman to under 50 yards of offense in the opening half. 

“Being 5-0 for the first time is a big step for the program,” said Portola Coach Peter Abe. “It was a sloppy affair at times tonight, but we’ll get into the film room and tighten it up. We know we can’t play sloppy and expect to win.”

Issac Lundell threw a fourth-quarter TD pass to Aiden Fordyce for the Patriots lone score and Jaden Giles rushed for 88 yards to lead Beckman (1-3).

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—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone