PHOTOS: Portola’s Timmy Grettenberg scores four TDs in key league victory over Uni

Portola junior running back Timmy Grettenberg runs for a long gain before being tackled by University’s Lucas Thune during the first quarter of Friday night’s Omicron League game. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Portola High School running back Timmy Grettenberg has been the Bulldogs workhorse all season long.

Friday night, when it mattered the most, Grettenberg took his play up another notch, rushing for four touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 31-6 Omicron League victory over University on homecoming at Portola.

Grettenberg had a career best 210 yards rushing on 31 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 1, 5, 7 and 26 yards to help Portola (3-5, 3-0) remain tied for first place in the league with Pacifica. Portola hosts Buena Park (2-1) next Friday and closes league with Pacifica on Thursday, Oct. 31 at Bolsa Grande in a game that could decide the league title.

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The Bulldogs appeared to solidify their CIF playoff chances with the win Friday.

“I definitely couldn’t do it without my line,” Grettenberg said. “I feel like my line elevated me to score those four touchdowns. I could never do it without my line or my team.”

Grettenberg had previously scored two touchdowns in a game for the Bulldogs who continued their winning ways in league.

“I feel like we had a rough pre-season but in league I feel like we’re firing on all cylinders and we’re improving a lot,” Grettenberg said. “I do everything for my team, whatever it takes to win. We’re looking to win league and take this to the playoffs and win that championship. I feel like we improved a lot this game this isn’t it, the job is not finished.”

Portola’s defense was also solid. The only points for Uni (3-5, 0-3) came on field goals by Jake Rabold: a 31-yarder and 22-yarder in the second quarter.

Portola led 14-6 at halftime before breaking the game open in the second half. Placekicker Ishaaan Kedia accounted for the Bulldogs final points with a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Portola running back Diego Reyna was also solid rushing for 110 yards on 12 carries as part of the effective ground game for Portola. Quarterback Nash Luper completed one pass in four attempts, a 43-yarder to Malachi Moore to set up a Bulldogs TD.

“Tim Grettenberg is a load for sure, he runs hard for sure, he’s been doing that for us for the past couple years,” said Coach Peter Abe. “He was the guy blocking for Marcus Sung last year and now it’s his turn. We’ve had a line of dudes (running backs) the past couple of years since we started …. you got him with the heavy hitting, hard-hitting stuff and you got Diego with the counters and traps and tosses and having those guys run as hard as they do is fantastic.

“But the true testament goes to those big dogs on the line, it’s not always pretty in the trenches but those are the guys who come in every day, they do their ice baths, their stretching and they show up to work every day and this team has been built on hard work, weight lifting in the weight room in the off-season and sound, fundamental football in terms of tackling and working to get turnovers and time of possession and these guys have really bought into that.”

After an 0-5 start, Portola has won three in a row to open league.

“If you watch the film, our guys have gotten better every single week, they’ve bought in more every single week,” Abe said. “It’s not going to be perfect, but at the end of the day, we keep our eyes on the prize around here and the goal was you got to put yourself in position to win the league title and get in the playoffs and keep it pushing. There is no time to focus on the negatives, that doesn’t help anybody, it only hurts.”

University was led offensively by starting quarterback Dylan Elmer who passed for 73 yards. Carl Oldham had three catches for 56 yards and Damari Carter rushed for 85 yards on 14 carries for the Trojans.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com