Veale runs for five touchdowns to move Portland into semifinals

When Jacob Veale moved from Ionia to Portland he was wishing for success. That is exactly what Veale got as he rushed for 242 yards and five touchdowns in a 40 to 6 win over Frankenmuth to give Portland their first regional title since 2012.

“I expected us to be pretty good,” Veale said. “I would have never imagined this.”

Veale rushed for over 200 yards for the third straight game and gives all the credit to his team mates.

“I have to give it all to the lineman and the big tight ends that come in,” Veale said. “They make the holes I just find them.

The offense started slow for both Portland and Frankenmuth, but Portland found their offense midway through the second quarter as they scored 21 points.

“We knew in the beginning when we were struggling a bit,” Veale said. “We knew that we needed to just do what we do.”

While Veale dominated on offense, the Portland defense allowed less than 150 total yards and forced six turnovers.

“The kids prepared very well,” Portland head coach John Novara said. “I’m very proud of their efforts.”

Portland forced five fumbles and intercepted one pass and dominated the entire game.

“We were up big last week on Lansing Catholic and kind of laid an egg in the second half,” Novara said. “It was good to play the entire game.”

Portland last won a regional title in 2012 when the Red Raiders won their only state championship in school history.

“We had a lot of athletes on that 2012 team,” Novara said. “We have good athletes on this team, but we have a lot more depth.”

Portland will face Marine City on Nov. 17 at Howell High School in their second semifinal appearance in school history.