FRIDAY ROUNDUP: Port Allegany, Bradford experience different sides of Week One blowouts

PORT ALLEGANY, PA – In the first glimpse of the post-Bienkowski-Bliss era, the Port Allegany football team picked up right where they left off, storming through the first week of the season with a 68-0 win over Coudersport with the help of Kellen Veilleux’s five touchdowns. 

The Gators wasted no time reaching the back of the endzone, with Veilleux receiving a 13-yard pass from Brennan Fillhart to break the ice. Less than a minute later, Fillhart once again saw a target in the open, tacking on six more points as he connected with Chase Boyd. 

Adding one more touchdown to their first quarter resume, the Gators pulled away for good in the second. Before the half, Veilleux picked up three more scores, including a 52-yard carry, a 40-yard pick-six and a 30-yard carry that, along with Boyd’s second of the day and Isaac Postlewait’s first, put the Gators firmly ahead, 60-0. 

Veilleux ended the game with 93 rushing yards and 96 passing yards, collecting five touchdowns, while Brennan Fillhart came away with 214 passing yards and three touchdowns on a 9-for-11 completion rate. Boyd collected 79 receiving yards and Postlewait ended with 67 rushing yards, the duo combining for three scores. On defense, Liam Hawver and Landon Carlson both led the team with three unassisted tackles a-piece, while Jackson Young tallied 1.5 sacks. 

Next week, Port will leave the swamp for their first road game. On Friday, Sept. 4, they will travel to play Smethport at 7 p.m.

Punxsutawney 63, Bradford 14

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA – Staring up at a tall task in their season debut, the Owls were unable to overcome the Chucks, losing handily by 49. 

Bentley Evans scored Bradford’s first touchdown of the night, followed by a successful 2-point-conversion carry from Mikah Benjamin immediately after. Later on, Brady Rosendahl scrambled out of the pocket for a late-game touchdown, however, the Owls were unable to tack on an extra point. 

Up next, Bradford returns home for back-to-back weeks, seeing Kane on Sept. 4 and Smethport on Sept. 11.