LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Otto-Eldred 65 Portville 6
In 1976, a 2-1 Panther football team went up against a 4-0 OE powerhouse. After stuffing the Terrors' potent
offense on the initial series, the Panthers scored on their very first play - an automatic pass from QB Jerry Holcomb to WR
Ray Auman. PCS 6 Otto-Eldred 0
The elation on the Panther sideline quickly disappeared, as the home squad responded with nine unanswered
touchdowns and 65 points. The victors were led by three Big 30 All-Stars - QB Jeff Miller, RB Ed Crandall,
and WR Steve Bell (who is presently the chief statistician for Portville). Crandall was on this elite all-star
team for 3 years.
O-E finished 8-1 for the season, losing the Border Conference Championship Game to Bradford Central Christian,
20-14. Ironically, the 8-1 BCC team's only defeat came at the hands of Portville, 34-28, when Holcomb and Auman teamed
up for four TD passes.
(Music by Circle of Dust "Chasm" 1998
Celldweller Music)
Port Allegany 21 Portville 8
With both teams sporting once-beaten records, the Panthers traveled to Port A for the 1978 Border Conference
title game.
The Gator's RB Barry Bova scored the first two TDs, going over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Portville
responded with a John Depp-to-Joe Caya passing score, followed by Gary Swetland's 2-point plunge.
Late in 4th Quarter, PCS forced a turnover and were on their way to a game-leading score. But, alas, Portville
reciprocated with their own fumble and lost possession of the pigskin. Two plays later, Bova took the hand-off and ran
79 yards to paydirt, sealing the victory for Port Allegany.
The Gators ended the season at 8-1. Portville took out their disappointment by whipping Allegany the next
week, 53-0...Portville's biggest margin of victory of all-time.
Read about the PCS-Port A game:
(Music by the 77s "Honestly" 1995 Brainstorm
Artists)
