(game information courtesy of the Portsmouth Daily Times)
PORTSMOUTH — Amanda-Clearcreek got out to an early lead but could not contain host Portsmouth as the Trojans advanced with a 35-16 win Friday night.
A 61-yard pass from Logan Stevens to Tommy Stai had the No. 9 seed Aces on the board three minutes into the contest.
After a defensive stop, Tanner Affolter returned a punt 49 yards to the Portsmouth 21. That set up a one-yard run from Affolter and the Aces led 13-0 with 4:16 left in the quarter.
No. 8 seed Portsmouth (8-3) turned the tide in the second quarter with Chase Heiland touchdowns.
The Trojan senior scored on a 14-yard pass from JT Williams, a three-yard run and a seven-yard pass from Williams. Three Malachi Loper kicks had Portsmouth up 21-13 at the half.
Portsmouth opened the second half with the ball.
A nearly busted play turned into a 62-yard touchdown pass as Williams had a fumbled snap bounce back to him and he found Lukas Bradley at the 40 who took it the rest of the way for a 28-13 lead.
The Aces added a 35-yard field goal from Hayden Dunn with seconds left in the third but couldn’t get any closer.
Heiland added one more score to Portsmouth’s total early in the fourth.
Affolter was AC’s top rusher with 41 yards on six carries while Stai had 32 yards on 13 totes and Stevens had 31 yards on seven runs.
The Aces finish the season with a 6-5 record and it was the Aces’ first playoff game since going into the second round during the 2021 season.
For Portsmouth, Friday was the fourth straight opening round win with two coming as the 9 seed and winning as the 15 seed last year. The Trojans now head to No. 1 seeded Ironton (10-1), which was a 68-14 winner over Worthington Christian Friday.
Portsmouth 35, Amanda-Clearcreek 16
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 F
Am.-Clearcreek 13 0 3 0 16
Portsmouth 0 21 7 7 35
First Quarter
AC —Tommy Stai 61 pass from Logan Stevens (Hayden Dunn kick), 8:59.
AC — Tanner Affolter 1 run (run failed), 4:16.
Second Quarter
PO — Chase Heiland 14 pass from J.T. Williams (Malachi Loper kick), 11:53.
PO — Chase Heiland 3 run (Malachi Loper kick), 6:33.
PO — Chase Heiland 7 pass from J.T. Williams (Malachi Loper kick), 1:35.
Third Quarter
PO — Lukas Bradley 62 pass from J.T. Williams (Malachi Loper kick), 9:54.
AC — Hayden Dunn 35 field goal, :04.
Fourth Quarter
PO — Chase Heiland 6 run (Malachi Loper kick), 9:45.
TEAM STATISTICS
AC PO
First Downs 10 19
Scrimmage plays 40 50
Rushes-yards 29-109 42-214
Passing yards 64 107
Total yards 173 321
Cmp-Att-Int. 4-11-2 6-8-0
Fumbles-lost 3-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 9-56 10-72
Punts-Ave. 3-35.3 3-34
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Amanda-Clearcreek: Tommy Stai 13-32 TD, Logan Stevens 7-31, Tanner Affolter 6-41 TD, Nick Holland 2-1, Boston Fowler 1-4; Portsmouth: Chase Heiland 19-99 2TD, J.T. Williams 17-106, Nick Copley 2-13, Team 4-(-4).
PASSING — Amanda-Clearcreek: Logan Stevens 4-10-1-64, Tommy Stai 0-1-1-0; Portsmouth: J.T. Williams 6-8-0-107 3TD.
RECEIVING —Amanda-Clearcreek: Tommy Stai 2-52 TD, Nick Holland 1-7, Colton Westoven 1-5; Portsmouth: Lukas Bradley 1-62 TD, Chase Heiland 2-21 2TD, Trevin Brooks 2-9, Camron Williams 1-15.