By Mr. Zane Harding, Journalism Advisor
This past Saturday, the 6-1 Onekama Portagers varsity football team hosted the 5-2 Twin Bay Sharks. Twin Bay's team traveled over 200 miles to face the Portagers with one mission: to, as their social media page put it, "Burn the boats."
I'm not sure that the Sharks ever made it home, based on their messaging, as Onekama stole victory from the JAWS of defeat in the closing seconds of their Senior and Parents Night game, 22-20.
Most of the game was a tight, back-and-forth match of two very solid teams. The Sharks, however, scored with just one minute remaining to take the lead. This, however, set up an unforgettable pass from junior quarterback Luke Bradford to junior Nathaniel Barnett in the closing seconds of the game. To quote the team's athletes themselves, Barnett "mossed" the defender, leaping over him to secure the winning touchdown in a way made famous by NFL Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Randy Moss.
The play symbolized everything great about this Onekama season. Bradford had completed just one pass prior to the game-winner, with the Portagers offense kept afloat by its much-improved 2024 rushing attack; Barnett made the reception and led the Portagers on the ground with 112 yards on 20 carries, representing the infusion of Manistee Catholic Central student talent that has taken Onekama's team to a new level; and second-year coach Justin Sedelmaier and his staff did not waver in the face of last-second adversity, much like the world-famous 2024 Detroit Lions in their 31-29 victory this past Sunday.
KEY STATS
Passing:
Luke Bradford: 2-12, 63 yd, 1 TD
Tyler Hart: 2-3, 31 yd
Andrew Hybza: 1-1, 6 yd, 1 TD
Rushing:
Nathaniel Barnett: 20 rushes, 112 yd, 1 TD
Chase Gauthier: 6 rushes, 37 yd
Tyler Hart: 9 rushes, 33 yd
Luke Bradford: 11 rushes, 31 yd
Andrew Hybza: 2 rushes, 13 yd
Receiving:
Hunter Niesen: 3 receptions, 55 yd, 1 TD
Nathaniel Barnett: 2 receptions, 45 yd, 1 TD
Defensive Standouts:
Turnover Generators:
Tyler Hart: 3 TOT tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 INT
Luke Bradford: 2 TOT tackles, 1 INT
Davin Sibo: 4 TOT tackles, 1 Forced Fumble
Arden Bradford: 5 TOT tackles, 0.5 sack, 1 Fumble Recovery
Leaders in Tackling/Coverage:
Nathaniel Barnett: 11 TOT tackles
Brandon Brindle: 8 TOT tackles
Tommy Marcoux: 5 TOT tackles, 0.5 sack
Hunter Niesen: 2 TOT tackles, 1 pass deflection
Onekama now sits at 7-1 on the season, with just one game left in their regular season: a 200-mile road trip of their own to 3-5 Breckenridge this Friday night at 7 PM. The Portagers are currently 7-1 for the first time since 2017 (that season, the Portagers finished the regular season 8-1). Should Onekama defeat Breckenridge and Marion win their final game of the season, the Portagers may host a playoff game this postseason!