Final football games are this week
The weather is cooperating very nicely for some of the best weather that football fans in Plumas County have seen in years.
The Portola Tigers are having a really terrific turn around this season. With guidance from head football coach Steve Heskett, many good things are happening on the field and on the scoreboard.
“The boys played a great game last Friday,” said proud parent and PHS fan Paige Folchi as the Tigers took on the Fall River Bulldogs, who proved to be tough, tough, tough. The Tigers fought hard, but the win went to Fall River, 28-18.
Right out of the gate, the Bulldogs scored two TDs and a 2-point conversion to lead 14-0. In the second quarter, only the Tigers scored with Keegan Folchi catching a 52-yard pass and Dominic Bautista kicking an extra point to narrow the lead, 14-7 before the half.
The Bulldogs found renewed strength and scored another pair of TDs and another 2-point conversion while allowing only a field goal kicked by Bautista again for the Tigers, 28-10.
Portola rallied in the fourth quarter for a second touchdown, scored by Shane Curren with a 1-yard run and a 2-point conversion kicked by Bautista to add 8 points. It was a valiant effort, but not enough to overtake the visiting Bulldogs.
“We did lots of good things and had a few breakdowns,” said PHS head football coach Steve Heskett. “It wasn’t our best night against a very good team and that’s my fault.”
Tiger junior and quarterback Dylan Gonzalves completed nine passes in 16 attempts for 132 yards. The Bulldogs’ sophomore quarterback, Ryan Osborne, completed 5 passes in 9 attempts for 57 yards.
Junior Shane Curren had 16 carries for a total of 88 yards and scored a Tiger touchdown. Another junior, Zach Mulhall, turned five carries into 35 yards for the Tigers.
Senior Keegan Folchi added 95 yards for PHS receiving five passes and scored a touchdown, nicely done. Add to that, 35 yards on a kick return and Folchi had the highest all purpose yards for the Tigers. Senior Taylor Koski caught two passes for 34 yards.
Junior Owen Bowling led the defense with 10 tackles, six solo. Curren and senior Chase Nielson both made seven tackles. Senior Mario Ruiz, Mulhall and junior Carver Wearin all made six each.
Curren kicked three punts for 112 yards, three kickoffs, also for 112 yards, and scored the two-point conversion. Junior Dominic Bautista hit the mark when he kicked the Tiger field goal and the extra point.
Kickoff returns were handled by Folchi, Mulhall (14 yards), senior Jacob Dias and junior Xander Loomis.
The Portola Tigers season ends with two away games. They are 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the league before the match with Biggs. They played the Wolverines Oct. 25 and travel to Etna for the final regular game of the season, Friday, Nov. 1.
