SOUTH PORTLAND – It was only fitting that Friday night’s back-and forth contest between South Portland and Thornton Academy came down to a big play.

Much to the Trojans’ chagrin, it was the Red Riots who pulled it off.

South Portland (1-1) got a 67-yard touchdown pass with under two minutes to go to pull off the 20-16 upset win in the team’s home opener against Thornton Academy (1-1) on Sept. 9.

With just 1:32 showing on the game clock and trailing by a score of 16-14, South Portland got the ball and the momentum when the Riots stopped the Trojans on a fourth-and-six play, taking over on their own 33.

Riot coach Steve Stinson gathered his team on the sideline and called the first play of the drive.

It turned out to be the only one he needed.

Riot quarterback Michael Salvatore hit reciever Dan Medici with a little slant pass across the middle, and Medici did the rest, picking up blocks and evading tacklers while bringing the Riot faithful to their feet with a 67-yard score to seal the win.

The Riots, who came into the game off a tough loss to Cheverus last week, have another tough test next week as they square off against a 2-0 Sanford team that knocked off Scarborough on Friday night. The Trojans, who beat Bonny Eagle in the opener last Saturday, will try and right the ship against Windham next week.

For more on this game, see this week’s editions of the Current and the Sun Chronicle.