SOUTH PORTLAND — Portland’s Domenic Fagone caught the line drive punt on the run and burst through the first group of South Portland tacklers.
He didn’t make it to the end zone, but he got close enough – the 1-yard line. Nick Archambault scored on the next play.
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All of this was significant because Portland had only one first down in the first half. Thanks to Fagone’s punt return, however, the Bulldogs (5-3) were able to take a one-point lead after Achambault’s touchdown and John Williams’ point after early in the second quarter.
Williams added a 34-yard field goal with 8:33 left and Portland held on to win a defensive-mind Battle of the Bridge game 10-6 on Saturday afternoon.
Joe Esposito preserved the win with a late interception.
“It was a tough football game,” said Esposito. “Both defenses played well. They hit us and we hit them back.”
The Bulldogs earned their second straight win in this rival game and head into the Eastern A playoffs as the No. 3 seed.
Portland will face No. 6 Deering, a team it beat 42-14 on Sept. 12, only to have to forfeit that win last week for using an ineligible player.
South Portland (5-3) is the No. 3 seed in the Western A playoffs and will host No. 6 Biddeford at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Red Riots missed a chance to earn the second seed.
Portland’s special teams played a key role in the victory. Of course, there was Fagone’s punt return and Williams’ field goal, but Jordan Talbot also played a key role as the Bulldogs’ punter.
The Riots won the time of possession battle, particularly in the first half, but could only reach the end zone once.
“We had a couple of penalties in the red zone that hurt,” said South Portland Coach Steve Stinson.
Late in the game, South Portland had a first down on the 9 after three straight runs by Matthew Stearns. On a first down run, the Riots were called for blocking in the back. That pushed the ball back to the 21. Stearns got 3 yards on first down, then quarterback Nick Mezzanotte passed to Hayden Owen for 11 yards to the 7. On third down, Mezzanotte got pressured attempting to throw. He lofted a pass into the end zone, hoping to connect with 6-foot-5 tight end Jaren Muller, but Esposito got position and picked the pass off for Portland’s third interception.
The Bulldogs got the ball at the 20, but were forced to punt. South Portland got one last chance at its 43 with 2:16 remaining. On third down, Mezzanotte threw down the middle to Muller, who couldn’t hold on in tight coverage. On fourth down, Owen was dropped for a 7-yard loss and Portland ran out the clock.
South Portland took a 6-0 lead late in the opening quarter when Mezzanotte passed to Owen in the flat and the versatile senior exhibited some deft moves to score. The point after kick was blocked.
Portland’s offense gained four straight first downs on a drive that started in the third and ended in the fourth. Williams capped the drive with his field goal.
“John Williams has earned the right to get a shot to kick it,” said Portland Coach Jim Hartman. “It was a very resilient win. We played hard.”
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