Portsmouth tops Middletown on Thanksgiving Day. Here's how they did it.
Neal Tullson ran for two touchdowns and threw for one as Portsmouth defeated Middletown 20-0 on Thanksgiving Day. Both talented teams were coming off Super Bowl losses five days earlier but put forth their best efforts in the annual rivalry game.
The Patriots defeated Middletown 38-0 the previous year and now hold a 36-19-2 lead in the series. Here’s what we learned:
Portsmouth defense defined by meshing individuals' abilities
After allowing just one touchdown to St. Raphael in the Division II Super Bowl game the Portsmouth defense continued to impress against Middletown.
The Islanders managed just four first downs, 14 rushing yards and 72 total yards from scrimmage for the game.
“Obviously they’re stout. They play in (Division II) against teams that are much bigger than us,” Middletown coach Matt Kestler said. “Look what they did in the Super Bowl. They held St. Ray’s in check for 47 and a half minutes. We knew it would be tough sledding.”
The key to the success?
“I thought we did a good job, still with a short week, of highlighting our players abilities on the defensive side,” Portsmouth coach Dustin Almeida said. “Something that I thought stood out all year was the coaching staff highlighted the defensive players’ individual ability and found a way to make their abilities work within the system.
“I thought that was kind of the key to our success the whole season. We’ve got some pretty special players that can do some different things. We had a very good group all year and I thought today was no different.”
Thanksgiving setback aside, Islanders can still stand tall
Despite the setback, Middletown played to the best of its abilities and that’s what the coach wanted to see.
“Of course the win and the loss are important but we just wanted to come out here and compete after a really tough letdown in the Super Bowl,” Kestler said. “And I think we did that. I like the way my guys came out here and competed with a team that’s obviously very good. We had a tall task today and we feel like we were up to the task.
Kestler singled out his seniors – Trent Sotelo, Andrew Doody, Tim Robinson, Ryan Burgess, John Wiest, John Duke, Sam Little, Nick Kleinknecht and Ben Connerton – for helping to guide the underclassmen. The Islanders, whose two league setbacks were by six points each, finished with a 9-3 record and as Division III Super Bowl runners-up.
“It was tough for them,” Kestler said. “The message all week was don’t let the letdown of the Super Bowl override what your great season was and what you accomplished. I think that probably other than in our own locker room – we outperformed just about what anybody else thought we were going to do.
“So credit to those seniors. We told them all week that they set the bar really high for these teams going forward. I know a lot of them are on to other sports and I think the success they had in this season is probably going to carry over.”
Portsmouth senior captain makes surprise appearance on the field
It was a surprise to see Portsmouth’s season-opening starting quarterback – senior Luke Brennan – on the field in uniform for the opening coin toss. It was even more of a surprise to see him in at quarterback for one play (he handed the ball to Neal Tullson), on the kickoff team for another play and then as the kicker for an extra point (it was blocked) after the Patriots' final touchdown.
“There were some little things we did. He hasn’t played since week 1,” Almeida said.
Obviously, Brennan loved every second he was on the field.
“It meant the world to me getting out there for the last day,” Brennan said. “It’s so different being on the sideline with everyone and it’s a whole different vibe being on the field. You’re with your brothers a lot more and you really feel more a part of it.”
As for the blocked extra point?
“Little bit of a high snap, little bit of blocking but I’m going to be honest, I don’t know if it was going (to be good) anyways so it might have saved me a little bit of embarrassment,” Brennan said. “Not the worst thing that happened.”
Portsmouth offensive line helps grab momentum and keep it
Middletown and Portsmouth traded possessions through a scoreless first quarter and exchanged turnovers early in the second quarter before the Patriots settled in. Portsmouth had a 12-play, 85-yard scoring drive late in the second quarter.
The Patriots began the third quarter with a 42-yard drive capped by Tullson’s second touchdown run. Tullson threw a five-yard, jump-pass touchdown to Tyler Hurd to cap a 14-play, 55-yard march that ate up nine minutes of the fourth quarter.
“I think early on in the game it was a feeling out process,” Almeida said. “Later in the game, starting in the second quarter and into the second half, I thought the offensive line started to really dictate what was going on out there.
“(Middletown) was doing a little stunting and blitzing so it took us a little bit to kind of settle in. But I really thought the offensive line at the end of the second quarter really started to impose their will.”
Kestler said, “As the game wore on the size started to take its toll. But overall I was pleased with the way we competed and they just kept after it for four quarters.”
Patriots rallied behind seniors throughout the season
Whether they played running back, quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, defensive back or any position on the offensive or defensive line, Portsmouth’s 18 seniors – Carson Conheeny, Neal Tullson, Michael Archer, Jackson Mello, Sage Qaisar, Luke Brennan, Evan Tullson, Jasper Morse, Shane Harvey, Dylan Brandariz, Henry Rodrigues, Grace Duclos, Huntley Almeida, Jake Ruttenberg, Tristan Whiteside, Trey Delemos, Joe Nardolillo and Parker Daigle – left their signature on a squad that finished as the second best in Division II and with an 8-4 overall record.
“I coached them when they were young and kind of brought them all the way through,” Portsmouth coach Dustin Almeida said. “My kid is one of them. They’ve grown up in my house. It’s just an unbelievable group of young men, high-character people.
“It showed all year long in the way they handled themselves and the way they played the game. Not only in terms of taking care of what’s going on on the field, but taking care of the stuff off the field too. Doing things within the community.
And as a group just being unbelievable, tremendous leaders. Definitely one of the most special groups I’ve been around.”
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Portsmouth beats Middletown in high school football on Thanksgiving
