From The Portsmouth Daily Times, Sunday 5 Nov 2000, pg. B1-B2
"Trojans Thump Ironmen:
"PHS Wins First Playoff Game in 16 Years
"By Adam VanKirk, Times Sports Writer
"Despite what coach Curt Clifford said was maybe not the 'most crisp' game the Portsmouth Trojans hae played this season, the consequences of a 34-[6] win against the Jackson Ironmen left the 12th-year coach 'very proud' of his team.
"While the Trojans finished the game with nine penalties for 85 yards and had two touchdowns called back on penalties Saturday night at Spartan Stadium, the reality of Portsmouth's first-ever 11-win season and first trip out of the first-round of the playoffs since 1984 left Clifford 'ecstatic'.
"'What people need to understand is every team that is in the playoffs is a good football team,' Clifford said. 'There's nobody in the playoffs that isn't good and we're not going to go out and hang 40 or 50 points on people. We're just not going to do that.'
"While the days of 500-yard and 50 point games may be behind the Trojans, Clifford did admit that he wasn't fully pleased with the way the Trojans played Saturday and specifically pointed to the blocking up front.
"'It was very uncharacteristic,' Clifford said. 'I don't think we blocked very well up front. I'm going to have to look at the film, but I just don't think we were real crisp. Our trapping game wasn't working and we acted like we've never seen a blitz all year.'
"While the Ironmen defense was able to hold the Trojans' rushing game, which had been averaging 370 yards a game, to 227 yards on 44 attempts, running back Joseph Parker was still able to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark for the eighth time this season.
"Another Trojan who had a good game offensively was quarterback Josiah Young, who threw for 143 yards on 11-of-17 passing with three touchdowns to three different receivers.
"Young hooked up with D.J. Carter from 47-yards out, Jeremy Hamrick from five-yards out and Derek Thompson from 13.
"While Clifford said Young played a 'wonderful' game, he pointed out that the mixture of passing and running was especially appealing.
"'I'll take that every Friday or Saturday night,' Clifford said of the Trojans' offensive and defensive numbers.
"While Portsmouth's offense totaled 370 yards, its defense, with the help of three sacks by lineman Dustin Pendleton who ran his season total to 13, held the Ironmen to just 152 yards and one score on a 35-yard pass in the second quarter.
"And while the end result is that the No. 1 seeded Trojans, who are a Division III, Region 12 team, will now be playing No. 4 seeded Purcell-Marian in regional semifinal next Saturday at a [site] to be determined today, Clifford said some of the mistakes that occurred against Jackson will have to be eliminated if the Trojans want to play beyond next week.
"'What we have to do, if we're going to make any kind of a run at all, is just get crisper,' Clifford said. 'We have to cut out the silly penalties and, I know I've said it a hundred times tonight and will probably say it a hundred more, but we just did a lot of things we don't normally do and I'm not pleased with it.'
"But while Clifford said he was unsatisfied with his team[']s overall performance, he also said his team knew it didn't play up to its capabilities and that could be a good thing for the Trojans.
"'Usually at this point in time, winning 34-[6], we'd have music going and the kids would be up dancing and having a good time,' Clifford said in an almost silent locker room. 'And I think that's a real credit to the kids, though, because they're not satisfied with their performance and I think that will make us better.'"
"Statistics:
"Jackson -------- 0 - 6 - 0 - 0 -- 6
"Portsmouth ----- 13- 14- 0 - 7 -- 34
"P - Jeremy Hamrick 3-run (Kick
failed), 7:38, 1st) (6-play, 64-yards)
"P - D.J. Carter 47-pass from Josiah Young (Fleming kick, 5:14, 1st) (1-play,
47-yards)
"P - Jeremy Hamrick 5-pass from Josiah Young (Fleming kick, 10:11, 2nd)
(12-play, 45-yards)
"P - Joseph Parker 13-run (Fleming kick, 5:15, 2nd) (5-play, 58-yards)
"J - Lee Adkins 35-pass from Ryan Tipton (Pass failed, 2:02, 2nd) (7-play,
75-yards)
"P - Derek Thompson 13-pass from Josiah Young (Fleming kick, 7:54, 4th)
(11-play, 61-yards)
"Team Stats:
"First Downs: PHS 22; J 9
"Rushing: PHS 44-227; J 23-34
"Passing: PHS 143; J 118
"Total Yards: PHS 370; J 152
"Penalties: PHS 9-85; J 7-65
"Fumbles-lost: PHS 1-0; J 0-0
"Punts: PHS 1-18; J 5-136
"Punt Returns: PHS 1-25; J 0-0
"Kick Returns: PHS 1-0; J 3-56
"Individual Stats:
"Rushing: PHS - J. Parker 24-145; Hamrick 9-68; Bolden 5-14; Harris
1-4; Felts 1-2; Young 3-1; B. Parker 1-5. J - Swisher 7-17; Tipton 11-10; Mustard
1-7; Green 1-3; Adkins 1-3.
"Receiving: PHS - Carter 4-76; B. Parker 4-34; Hamrick 2-23; Thompson
1-13. J - Mustard 6-59; Adkins 3-59.
"Passing: PHS - Young 11-17, 143, 3, 0. J - Tipton 9-15, 118, 1,
0."
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