Portola players, including Brandon Yue (No. 12 ) and Kaveh Wojtowich celebrate the school’s first football league title. (Photos:Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)
At the outset of the season, Portola High coach Peter Abe said the team’s goal was to be in the conversation for a Pacific Coast League championship and the CIF playoffs.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
And with the Bulldogs 44-31 victory Friday night at Portola High over Irvine Portola before a homecoming crowd has clinched at least a share of the league title and a trip to the playoffs looks promising.
Brothers, Brandon and Trevor Yue combined to compile 415 yards of offense and had a hand in 5 touchdowns as Portola won its eighth consecutive game and improved to 8-1 and 4-0 with one regular season game remaining (against Woodbridge). The Vaqueros fell to 1-8 and 1-3.
“This win and league title (first in Portola history) means a lot to us, it validates all of the hard work and commitment these guys have put in,” said Bulldogs coach Peter Abe. “Since 2016, these guys have put in the work and they bought into the Portola philosophy.”
The Bulldogs defeated Beckman and Northwood earlier this season and with a win next week Woodbridge can win the league title outright.
After a wild first half that ended with a 28-28 stale mate at halftime, both defenses stiffened in the second half.
Midway through the third quarter, Portola took advantage of an interception by Adrian Valerin to take a 35-28 lead. Valerin muscled the ball away from an Irvine receiver on the play and changed the momentum of the game.
“You guys are going to give me a heart attack,” Valerin said as he addressed his teammates following the game. “We did not quit and we fought to the bitter end. We’re league champions.”
Following Valerin’s heroics, Brandon Yue darted 36-yards for a touchdown to break a tied game and give Portola the lead with 3:50 to play in the third quarter.
“We changed our mentality in the second half and won the fourth quarter,” said Brandon Yue, who rushed for 177 yards. “This is the result of hard work for four years.“
Brandon Yue also completed 15 passes for 132 yards and 2 TD passes.
The Vaqueros cut the lead to 35-31 on a 27-yard field goal by Jack Condon with 8:57 to play.
The Bulldogs secured the victory on their following drive as they methodically marched 75 yards in 10 plays for a back-breaking touchdown. Trevor Yue scored on a 4-yard TD run to up Portola’s lead to 42-31 with to 4:50 remaining.
“We overcame adversity tonight and winning the league championship means a lot to this team,” said Trevor Yue, who rushed for rushed for 106 yards and scored two TDs. “Our defense was the difference in the second half.”
The Bulldogs added a safety late in the game to complete its scoring.
Portola jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead and it appeared it was going to be a long night for the Vaqueros.
On the third play from scrimmage, senior runningback Kai Horn blasted 42 yards up the middle for a touchdown run giving Portola a 7-0 lead.
Following an Irvine three-and-out, the Bulldogs marched 62 yards in 10 yards to increase is lead to 14-0. The key play on the drive was a fourth down run of 20 yards by quarterback Brandon Yue to the Vaqueros 3. On the next play, Trevor Yue capped the drive a 3-yard TD run.
But the Vaqueros promptly responded with a touchdown as Beck Moss tossed a picture-perfect 41-yard TD strike over the middle to Kade Zimmerman to cut the lead to 14-7 with 4:23 left in the opening quarter.
Zimmerman had 10 catches for 140 yards and two TDs.
Moss had an outstanding game as he completed 24 passes for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“I think our team showed great character,” said Moss. “They made adjustments in the second half but we didn’t quit.”
The second quarter featured five touchdowns as the game was filled with outstanding plays by both teams.
Irvine took their first possession of the second quarter and drove 74 yards 12 plays to tie the game at 14. Moss and Zimmerman hooked up on their second scoring pass-play of the game, this time a 13-yarder, for the score.
The Bulldogs countered with a 65-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Yue to Kaveh Wojtowich. However, the PAT was blocked and Portola led 20-14 with 4:36 left in the half.
Jacob Sears sparked the visiting Vaqueros crowd as he returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and propelling Irvine to a 21-20 lead.
Zimmerman recovered a Portola fumble on the following kickoff and Irvine’s offense was once again on the attack and took advantage of the Bulldogs gaffe.
Six plays later, Mihir Dhodia took a center screen pass from Moss and raced 11 yards for a touchdown as the Vaqueros took a 28-20 lead.
However, Portola would not be stopped.
Following a blocked Irvine field goal attempt late in the half, Brandon Yue broke off an 80-yard run to the Irvine one-yard line. The Bulldogs were penalized 15 yards at the end of the play but two plays later, Brandon Yue threw a TD pass to Trevor Yue. Portola converted the two-point pass to tie the score at 28 just before halftime.
Despite a difficult season Irvine coach Tom Ricci praised his team’s efforts.
“We have a lot of character and I’m proud of these guys,” said Ricci. “A lot of teams would have folded it up after four or five losses but these guys never ever quit. We fought to the end. Give Peter (Abe) credit, he and his staff did a great job.
The Bulldogs also earn the Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy that is awarded to the Irvine City champion annually.
STATS
RUSHING: Irv, Limongelli 5-21; P, Trevor Yue 16-106, Brandon Yue 8-177.
PASSING: Irv, Moss, 24-40-1, 273 yards, 3 TDs; P, Brandon Yue 15-22-0, 132 yards, 2 TDs.
RECEIVING: Zimmerman 10-140, Sears 6-56; P, Wojtowich 7-69, Jung 2-18.
-Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
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