Posted by Dylan Savela, Manistee News Advocate
ONEKAMA — Onekama was looking to set a tone Thursday night against Hart, and its victory bell hit all the right notes.
The Portagers pulled away in the second half for a 40-18 victory for their first Week 1 win over the Pirates in four seasons.
“It’s probably doubly important this year,” said Onekama coach Jim Hunter. “I think the game really showed it too. It was a dog fight.
“What I really liked about it was we didn’t just all of a sudden separate from them,” he added. “We had to work to get it, and (assistant) coach (John) Neph said it best: We looked like we just kept getting better and better as the game went on.”
Senior quarterback Tyler Johnson led the charge offensively with three second-half rushing touchdowns to turn an early third-quarter deficit into a comfortable margin of victory.
“Tyler can run the ball effectively,” Hunter said of his veteran under center. “He’s a load, and he showed it. He did exactly what I expected him to do.”
Johnson led the team with 80 yards on the ground while throwing for 57 on 4-for-8 passing with a touchdown through the air as well. Running back Jon Acton rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown while Jonas LaMont scored twice, once on a kick return and once through the air.
The Portagers were also advantageous when Hart let the ball hit the ground. Matt Hull hauled in three of Onekama’s five fumble recoveries for turnovers, including a pair on kickoffs.
“My guys just kept coming,” Hunter said. “I was really proud of them for that. We were both making mistakes, but we were ready to take advantage of all those things.”
Onekama came out of the gates fired up and forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage.
Two offensive plays later, Acton rushed for a 25-yard touchdown and 6-0 Portager lead at 10:59 in the first.
The Pirates responded with a 13-play drive that ended in a game-tying score, despite being fourth-and-goal 11 yards out, in which Hart quarterback Joe Fillips connected with Brady Tate with 2:48 remaining in the opening frame.
“We had a couple chances to gain control early,” Hunter said of what looked to be an early defensive stand, “but next thing you know they’re dominating the line of scrimmage and we can’t get anything going.”
In the second quarter, Hart took the lead at 2:53 remaining as running back Brett Bonstell scored from 25 yards out.
On the ensuing kickoff, however, LaMont snagged a high arcing, but short, boot toward the sideline and had to beat just one tackler en route to the special teams score.