It was an emotional Justin Zukowski walking around the field with the MVP Trophy in one hand and accepting congratulations with the other.
There were plenty of emotions to go around for Portland, which won a Thanksgiving Day game for the first time in four years and for only the second time in 12 seasons.
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Not that there was any doubt: Portland came into the game a huge favorite with an 8-2 record to Deering’s 1-7. Portland also won their regular-season game 45-19 in September.
Just the same, the Portland players were experiencing something they hadn’t before – a holiday win over its crosstown rival.
When it was suggested it must feel extra sweet coming in his last game for Portland, Zukowski offered: “Maybe my last football game ever, I don’t know.”
If that’s the case, than the senior running back/linebacker made it a memorable one. Zukowski scored four touchdowns and rushed for 217 yards on 28 carries as Portland beat Deering 47-6 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in the 102nd renewal of the Turkey Day game.
“The line did it again like they have all year. I’m going to miss this,” said Zukowski, looking around, his voice cracking.
This day belonged to the Bulldogs from the start. Keeping the ball on the ground, which they have done so effectively all season, the Bulldogs scored on their first and third possessions, both 1-yard runs by Zukowski.
And when Deering failed to take advantage of a scooped-up fumble and run by Mike Marzilli from the Deering 20 to the Portland 7, the Bulldogs drove 96 yards on six plays, all runs by Zukowski, to go up 21-0 on another 1-yarder by the leading rusher in Eastern Class A with 6:09 left before halftime.
Moments later, Deering punter Dan Marzilli booted one that went out at the Portland 1.
Operating out of its end zone, the Bulldogs got it out to the 19 on three straight runs by Zukowski. After a holding penalty, quarterback Jordan Talbot passed to Zukowski for 14 yards. On the next play, Ron Hargrove took an inside handoff on a double reverse, broke through a hole and outran the defense for a 63-yard score. John Williams’ PAT made it 28-0 with 1:43 remaining in the half.
Deering got its first first down of the game on its next series, and then perhaps in a show of things to come next season, a pair of sophomores teamed up for a 57-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left in the half. Max Chabot hit a wide-open Dominick Bernard, who ran away from the secondary. The extra point was blocked.
On Portland’s first of two length-of-the-field drives, Zukowski had runs of 22 and 41 yards. Defensive back Ricardo Delgado, who won the Merv Kilgore Trophy as Deering’s MVP, stopped Zukowski from going the distance. Zukowski had 175 yards on 21 carries in the first half.
Portland took the second-half kickoff and drove 56 yards in eight plays, capped by an 11-yard score by Zukowski that made it 34-6. The key play was a 31-yard run by Hargrove.
Zukowski had his touchdowns and Hargrove had another, so it was time for Portland’s other senior back, Jayvon Pitts-Young, to get his – a 3-yard run midway through the third quarter.
“A great effort by a great athlete,” said Portland Coach Jim Hartman of Zukowski’s performance. “Justin put us on his back and carried us. Defensively we played a very strong game.”
Zukowski won the Vinnie Allen Trophy. A top basketball player as well, he’s hoping to get into Bates College by an early decision.
His first choice in college would be to join the basketball team.
Guard Luigi Grimaldi, who opened some key holes and also played tough at linebacker, was named the winner of the James Banks Unsung Hero Award.
With only seven seniors on its roster, Deering is looking ahead to next season and beyond.
“There’s a reason Portland was in the Eastern Maine final,” said Matt Riddell, the Rams’ interim head coach. “They’re a very good football team and we’re a very young team, and that showed itself. We really had a tough time blocking Portland’s front seven.”
When the Rams got down to the Portland 7 early in the second quarter trailing 14-0, they tried two runs and two passes. On fourth-and-4, Chabot threw incomplete to Bernard at the right goal line.
“We had the right play called and were throwing with the wind,” said Riddell. “Dom was open but when Matt threw it, the wind pushed it over Dom’s head. There are a lot of good football players on this team. There are good things to come for Chabot, Bernard and Dan Marzilli, all sophomores.”
Hargrove finished with 98 yards on five carries and Pitts-Young added 50 yards on 10 carries.
Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter:TomChardPPH
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