Portsmouth takes on Unioto at home in first game of the season
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WOUB) — The Unioto Shermans traveled to Portsmouth for their week one match, cruising to a 42-0 victory.
The offenses were stuck in the mud early. Unioto’s first drive looked promising before a wobbly pass was intercepted, flipping the field for the Trojans. Portsmouth was unable to capitalize on the opportunity, punting back to the Shermans after three plays.
After getting the ball back, the Shermans followed Cody Braden into the endzone on a one-yard rush to take a 7-0 lead. The Trojans were once again stymied by the Shermans’ rushing attack, forcing a punt deep in their territory to start the second quarter. Isaac Coy found Jaxson Zickafoose deep down the seam to extend the Sherman advantage. Once again, Unioto forced a three-and-out for Portsmouth, and the Shermans used a short field to set up another Cody Braden rushing touchdown. Halfway through the second quarter, Unioto was ahead 21-0.
As quickly as the Trojans received the ball, the Shermans had forced another punt, and it set up a deep shot from Coy to Brayden Harsha. On the next play, Coy took a short three-yard run into the endzone, and the Shermans led 28-0. To end the half, the squads traded interceptions, and the Trojans were unable to capitalize on their chance.
Unioto received the second-half kickoff, and Cody Braden took the first play from scrimmage deep into Portsmouth territory. Four plays later, Coy found Jack Welch on a broken play for his third touchdown and padded Unioto’s lead to 35-0. On the subsequent possession, the Shermans forced another three-and-out. Taking their time, the Shermans drove down the field behind backup quarterback Blake Braden, running out the third quarter. Blake Braden found Brayden Harsha in the corner of the endzone to cap off the drive, sending the Shermans into the fourth ahead 42-0.
The Trojans’ reserves strung together one of their longest drives of the game to begin the fourth quarter, but it fizzled out when the Shermans held firm on a fourth-and-short near midfield. Unioto responded with a long drive to run out the remainder of the game clock, winning 42-0.
The Shermans improve to 1-0 while the Trojans will fall to 0-1. Unioto will travel to Vinton County, a school they have beaten each of the last three times they have met. The Shermans dispatched the Vikings 45-8 in week one last year. Portsmouth will travel to cross-town rival Portsmouth West next week. The Trojans lead the all-time series 26-17 and won last year’s matchup 41-7.