Olivet at Portland – – Football – – The Bleacher Denizen – – September 6, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen is off to Portland High School to watch as the Raiders host the Eagles from Olivet. Olivet is a strong program with a long history of making the post-season playoffs. They opened their season last week with a 49-21 win over Remus Chippewa Hills. Portland has a powerful team nearly every season as well and also has experienced a lot of playoff success. They started off their season last week with a 39-25 win over Detroit Country Day.

Portland has new helmets and uniforms this year; they really look sharp!

The festivities for the evening started with a celebration of Junior Raider Night. The third grade through eighth grade football players and cheerleaders all stepped out on the track surrounding the football field and took a lap as the adoring parents and Raider football fans watched.

Olivet won the opening coin toss and elected to defer their decision to the second half. Portland elected to receive the game’s opening kickoff.

The band came out and did a fine job on Portland’s fight song. They then played the National Anthem and it was time for the opening kickoff.

It is now time to give you the events of this game through the eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen whose football career as a receiver was severely set back when the football powers-that-be decreed that he would not be permitted to use a bushel basket to help him catch footballs.

Aden Nystrom booted the game’s opening kickoff to around the Portland 12 yard line where Nolan Zbytowski fielded it and returned it about 25 yards before Dawson Feldpausch stopped him.

Portland started the game’s opening series on its own 37 yard line.

Kayden Dickerson gained two yards on a first down run to the right; Dawson Feldpausch made the Olivet tackle. Dominic Novara’s second down pass to Evan Gross gained eleven yards and earned a first down for the Raiders. Ethan Schaefer made the tackle for Olivet.

Kayden Dickerson gained three yards on a first down run up the middle; Dawson Feldpausch got the tackle for the Eagles. Dominic Novara made a second down pass to Christopher Battley on the right for a five yard gain; Aden Nystrom made the stop for Olivet. Kayden Dickerson burst through the line on third down for a forty-two yard touchdown.

The Raider point after kick failed. With 9:40 remaining in the opening quarter, Portland had a 6-0 lead.

Alec McGinnis kicked off for Portland. Ethan Schaefer fielded it around the Olivet 12 yard line and gained about twenty yards on his return. Trevor Smith made the tackle for Portland. Olivet had a first down on its own 32 yard line.

Ty Evert ran to the left side for a three yard first down gain. A.J. Weber made the tackle for Portland. On second down, Ty Evert’s run up the right tackle gained four yards before Brody Moore took him down. Patrick Priesman’s third down quarterback keeper gained one yard before he ran into A.J. Weber. On fourth down, Ty Evert went into the middle and gained the two yards Olivet needed for the first down. Kayden Dickerson and Brody Moore made the tackle for Portland.

Kayden Dickerson got into the backfield and tackled the Eagle ball carrier for a three yard first down loss. Evan Gross and A.J. Weber covered on Olivet’s incomplete second down pass. On third down, Patrick Priesman passed to Jack Masters, who made a nice leaping catch for a sixteen yard gain. Keaton McGregor and Evan Gross made the tackle for Portland.

Olivet had a first down on the Portland 45 yard line.

Brody Moore stopped the Eagle first down run for a one yard loss. Christopher Battley covered on Olivet’s incomplete second down pass. Patrick Priesman completed an eight yard third down pass to Jack Masters on third down; Mason McGregor made the stop for Portland. Christopher Battley stopped Olivet’s fourth down pitch for a seven yard loss.

Portland took over the ball on downs on their own 45 yard line.

Dominic Novara completed a seven yard first down pass to Nolan Zbytowski on the right side. Aden Nystrom made the tackle for Olivet. Kayden Dickerson went through the middle for a six yard gain and a first down before Ben Kelenske stopped him.

Nolan Zbytowski took the ball to the left for a two yard first down gain; Adaven Ross got the stop for the Eagles. Dominic Novara completed a second down pass over the middle to Kayden Dickerson, who caught the ball in stride for a five yard gain. Ty Evert made the tackle for Olivet. Kayden Dickerson went up the middle for a two yard third down gain before he ran into Kam Hisler. On fourth down, Brady Rowe went into the middle and gained the single yard Portland needed for a first down; Bryce VanderWal made the Eagle tackle.

Portland had a first down on the Eagle 33 yard line.

Kayden Dickerson took a pitch to the left side for an eighteen yard gain. Ty Evert made the Olivet stop.

On the final play of the first quarter, Nolan Zbytowski went to the left for an eight yard gain before Ethan Schaefer halted his progress.

After one quarter, Portland had a 6-0 lead. The Raiders had the ball on the Olivet six yard line; it was second down with two yards to go.

Kayden Dickerson took the ball to the left side and gained four yards before Dawson Feldpausch tackled him to prevent a touchdown.

On the next play, Brody Moore went up the left tackle for a two yard touchdown run.

Portland went for a two point conversion, but Jack Masters knocked a pass out of the air to foil it. With 11:26 remaining in the first half, Portland held a 12-0 lead.

Alec McGinnis kicked the ball off and Ty Evert caught it around the Olivet 9 yard line. He gained about eighteen yards before Isaac Kramer took him down. Olivet had a first down on its own 27 yard line.

Ethan Schaefer took the ball to the left for an eight yard first down gain before Keaton McGregor and Brady Rowe halted his progress. Christopher Battley stopped the Eagle second down run for a one yard loss. Patrick Priesman tossed a third down screen pass to Aden Nystrom on the right side for a nine yard gain and a first down. Evan Gross made the tackle for the Raiders.

Kayden Dickerson and A.J. Weber teamed up to stop the Olivet first down run for a one yard gain. Evan Gross stopped the second down run for no gain. On third down, Patrick Priesman completed a pass to Aden Nystrom, who made a nice run and gained forty yards before Mason McGregor pushed him out of bounds.

Olivet had a first down on the Portland 16 yard line.

Patrick Priesman threw a first down screen pass to Aden Nystrom on the right side for a five yard gain. Keaton McGregor got the stop for Portland. After Olivet recovered a fumble, A.J. Weber burst into the Eagle backcourt to stop the second down play for a two yard loss. Ethan Schaefer went into the middle for a three yard third down gain. A.J. Weber made the tackle for the Raiders.

Olivet had the ball on the Portland 10 yard line. It was fourth down and Olivet needed one yard to get a first down. Kayden Dickerson tipped Olivet’s fourth down pass and it fell harmlessly, but pass interference was called and Olivet ended up with a first down on the Portland 5 yard line.

Ty Evert went to the left for a one yard first down gain; Brody Moore got the tackle for the Raiders. Brody Moore stopped the Eagle second down run for no gain. Brody Moore and the Portland line stopped the third down run by Ty Evert for a one yard gain. After a timeout, Patrick Priesman completed a fourth down pass to Dawson Feldpausch for a three yard touchdown.

Olivet’s point after attempt turned into a broken play and it failed. With 3:07 remaining in the second quarter, Olivet trimmed Portland’s lead to 12-6.

Aden Nystrom kicked off for Olivet. Brady Rowe fielded the kickoff around the Portland 5 yard line and gained about twenty-one yards before Dawson Feldpausch took him down.

Portland had a first down on its own 26 yard line.

Kayden Dickerson went to the left for a four yard gain before Dawson Feldpausch tackled him. The Raider second down pass fell incomplete. Dominic Novara completed a third down pass to Evan Gross for an eight yard gain and a first down. Salvador Garza made the stop for Olivet.

Kayden Dickerson took the ball to the right for a fourteen yard gain; because of a fifteen yard penalty on Olivet, Portland ended up with a first down on the Olivet 33 yard line.

Kayden Dickerson went up the middle and gained one yard before he ran into Caleb Frazier and Ben Kelenske. Dominic Novara completed a second down pass to Nolan Zbytowski for a two yard gain; Jack Masters got the tackle for the Eagles. Kayden Dickerson gained four yards on a third down run; Caleb Frazier made the tackle for Olivet. Portland appeared to gain a first down on Dominic Novara’s fourth down run to the right, but a holding penalty brought the ball back to Olivet’s 36 yard line. Ethan Schaefer defended on Portland’s fourth down incomplete pass.

On the first half’s final play, Olivet went to the left for a four yard gain.

The first half ended with Portland holding a 12-6 lead.

Portland High’s band, directed by Mr. Mike Sulecki came out to entertain at halftime. Thanks to Mr. Sulecki for providing me with this information about his band and the halftime show. The 2024 season drum majors leading the band are Senior Jack Sheehan and Junior Evelyn Johnston. This season’s halftime theme is “Wanted: Dead or Alive”.

Nate Pianosi and Jack Sheehan were the drum majors for the halftime show. They opened with a really nice criminal anthem, “AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Cheap.” They did an excellent job on this song as well as all the songs they played at halftime.

The second song, Bon Jovi’s “Wanted: Dead or Alive” featured a fine trumpet solo by Gray Menold. The third song featured returning color guard members Adi Leik, Cate Pung, Amanda May and Will Roof, who fired rifles on the next number, “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson.

The halftime show featured a fine performance of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy.”

Kudos to the Raider band on an excellent halftime performance!!

Portland kicked off to open the second half. Alec McGinnis booted the ball to around the Olivet 10 yard line where Aden Nystrom fielded it and gained about sixteen yards before he ran into Gavin Werner. Olivet had a first down on its own 26 yard line.

Ethan Schaefer went up the left tackle for a one yard gain before A.J. Weber took him down. Brody Moore stopped the Eagle second down run for a one yard loss. Patrick Priesman completed a nineteen yard third down pass to Trip Burkett to earn a first down for the Eagles. Things happened fast, but I believe Mason McGregor got the tackle for the Raiders.

Thomas Perron stopped Olivet’s first down run for no gain. A second down bad snap led to a nine yard loss for the Eagles; Christopher Battley made the tackle for the Raiders. Mason McGregor broke up Olivet’s incomplete third down pass. Ty Evert’s fourth down punt was downed by Trip Burkett on the Portland 31 yard line where the Raiders started their next series.

Kayden Dickerson went to the left side for an eight yard first down gain. Jack Masters made the tackle for Olivet. Dawson Feldpausch stopped the Portland second down run for no gain. Portland appeared to gain yardage on third down, but a holding penalty cost the Raiders ten yards. Portland’s pass on the third down replay fell incomplete.

Christopher Battley punted for Portland on fourth down. He boomed his punt all the way (from the Portland 29 yard line) to the Olivet 18 yard line where his teammate, Trevor Smith downed the ball. Olivet started its next series from there.

Olivet ran a reverse play and Ty Evert completed a pass to Aden Nystrom for a twenty-six yard gain. (The quarterback handed off the ball to another player, who completed the pass. Alas, your aging Bleacher Denizen was not able to follow things well enough to see who passed the ball.) EDIT: Kyle Fuller, the Athletic Director at Olivet High School was kind enough to respond to an inquiry and let me know that it was Ty Evert who threw the ball. The only edit I did was to insert Ty Evert’s name into the sentence.

Anyway, Olivet had a first down on their own 44 yard line after that.

Ethan Schaefer gained two yards on a first down run up the middle; Thomas Perron made the tackle for the Raiders. Kayden Dickerson stopped Olivet’s second down run for no gain. On third down, Patrick Priesman faked a handoff and completed a fine pass to Dawson Feldpausch for an eighteen yard gain that gave the Eagles a first down on the Raider 36 yard line. Brady Rowe made the tackle for Portland.

Sawyer Goodman stopped the Eagle first down quarterback keeper for no gain. Keaton McGregor and Evan Gross covered on Olivet’s long, incomplete second down pass. Sawyer Goodman and Thomas Perron teamed up to stop Olivet’s third down run up the middle for no gain. Ethan Schaefer gained six yards on a fourth down run up the left tackle, but it was not enough for a first down. Barrett Spitzley made the tackle for the Raiders.

Portland took over the ball on downs on its own 30 yard line.

Nolan Zbytowski went around the left end for a ten yard gain and a first down.

Nolan Zbytowski went to the left for a two yard first down gain before he was stopped by Salvador Garza. Kayden Dickerson took a second down pitch to the right for a ten yard gain. Jack Masters made the stop for the Eagles.

Brady Rowe passed to Evan Gross on the right side for a two yard gain on the final play of the third quarter. Ethan Schaefer made the tackle for Olivet.

The third quarter ended with Portland holding a 12-6 lead. The Raiders had a second down with eight yards to go on the Eagle 46 yard line.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Kayden Dickerson gained eleven yards and earned a first down for the Raiders. Aden Nystrom made the tackle for the Eagles.

Kayden Dickerson gained eight yards on a first down run before Ben Kelenske tackled him. On second down, Kayden Dickerson went to the right for a nine yard gain before running into Isaac Richards.

Portland had a first down on the Olivet 18 yard line.

On the next play, Portland fumbled the ball and it went into the end zone before Ty Evert recovered the ball for Olivet. The Eagles had a first down on their own 20 yard line.

Evan Gross stopped the Eagle first down run to the right for a four yard loss. Mason McGregor knocked down Olivet’s second down pass; he nearly intercepted it. Evan Gross defended on Olivet’s incomplete third down pass. Ty Evert punted for the Eagles from the Olivet 16 yard line on fourth down. Brady Rowe fielded the punt for the Raiders and gained eight yards before Mason Deland tackled him.

Portland had a first down on its own 41 yard line with 9:00 left on the game clock.

Nolan Zbytowski gained four yards on a first down run to the left; Ben Kelenske got the tackle for Olivet. Kayden Dickerson’s second down run to the right earned eleven yards before Ben Kelenske stopped his progress.

On the next play, Keaton McGregor went to the right and outraced the Eagle defense for a forty-four yard touchdown run. Dominic Novara competed a pass to Keaton McGregor for a successful two point conversion.

With 7:30 left in the game, Portland had a 20-6 lead.

Alec McGinnis kicked the ball off to the Olivet 29 yard line. Ethan Schaefer fielded the kickoff but was not able to gain any yardage before Isaac Kramer tackled him. Olivet had a first down on Portland’s 29 yard line.

Patrick Priesman completed a screen pass to Mason Deland on the left side for a four yard gain. Gunnar Williams made the tackle for Portland. Evan Gross covered for Portland on Olivet’s incomplete second down pass. A.J. Weber covered for Portland on Olivet’s incomplete third down pass. On fourth down, Ty Evert’s punt went out of bounds on the Portland 32 yard line. (It was a thirty-six yard punt.)

Portland had a first down on its own 32 yard line with 6:24 remaining in the contest while holding a 20-6 lead.

Nolan Zbytowski went up left tackle for a two yard first down gain. Dawson Feldpausch made the tackle for Olivet. Keaton McGregor gained five yards on a second down run up the right tackle; Isaac Richards made the tackle for Olivet. Kayden Dickerson took a pitch to the left for an eight yard gain before Dawson Feldpausch took him down. Portland has a first down on its own 47 yard line.

Caden Lockwood went up the middle for a four yard first down gain; Ben Kelenske made the tackle for Olivet. Kayden Dickerson went around the right end and gained thirteen yads before Aden Nystrom knocked him out of bounds.

Keaton McGregor went to the right for a fourteen yard gain; Ty Evert made the tackle for Olivet.

On the next play, Keaton McGregor went to the left for a twenty-two yard touchdown run.

Portland’s point after kick was not good. With 2:56 left in the game, the Raiders had a 26-6 lead.

Alec McGinnis kicked the ball to the Olivet 25 yard line where Ty Evert fielded it and gained two yards before Nolan Zbytowski tackled him. Olivet had a first down on its own 27 yard line.

Christopher Battley stopped Olivet’s first down run for no gain. On second down, Olivet fumbled a pitch and dove on the ball for a six yard loss. Brad Meyers got into the backfield and stopped Olivet’s third down run for a three yard loss. Aden Nystrom’s fourth down punt was downed at the Portland 40 yard line, but a penalty pushed the ball back to the Portland 25 yard line.

There was time for only one more play. The Raiders took a knee.

Portland won the game by the final score of 26-6 to stay undefeated on the 2024 football season.