LUCASVILLE — Portsmouth and Valley exploded for 70 combined points. However it was the Trojans that had the bigger boom.
The Trojans, who were held to just seven points in the first half, lit up the scoreboard for 28 points in the third quarter to secure the victory against the Valley Indians 42-28 on Thursday night.
Senior quarterback Tyler Duncan and junior wide receiver Devon Lattimore connected six times on the evening, with three those being touchdowns.
Lattimore tallied 159 yards receiving to go along with his touchdowns.
Valley's offense was spearheaded by running back Colt Buckle. The senior finished the night rushing for 78 yards on 17 carries, three touchdowns and a two-point conversion run.
Buckle helped give the Indians a 14-7 lead at the break.
In the second half, several special teams mishaps by the Indians lit the fuse for a Trojan offensive explosion.
Early in the third period, Valley lined up to punt, only to have to kick hit the upback and give the Trojans the ball deep in Valley territory.
Senior wideout Jayden Duncan would catch a nine-yard pass from Duncan with 9:36 to tie the ballgame up 14-14.
A squib kick on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by Portsmouth after Valley was unable to fall on the football. Minutes later, senior Reade Pendleton took a jet sweep in from a yard out and gave Portsmouth it’s first lead at 20-14 with 7:30 left in the third.
Valley was able to respond when Carter Nickel hauled in a 23-yard touchdown toss from George Arnett. Buckle ran in for the conversion to tie the ballgame up at 28.
However, a Beau Hammond touchdown run and Lattimore's third touchdown catch in consecutive possessions was all that was needed to secure the win for the Trojans.
The win marks Portsmouth's sixth-straight in the series — a streak dating back to their 32-12 win over the Indians in 2016.
The Trojans will face Portsmouth West next Friday night at the Trojan Colisieum. Valley hits the road to face the Coal Grove Hornets.
BOX SCORE
Portsmouth 7 0 28 7 — 42
Valley 14 0 14 0 — 28
First Quarter
V — Colt Buckle 5 yard run (Buckle kick) 5:50
P — Devon Lattimore 14 yard pass from Tyler Duncan (Roth kick) 5:25
V — Colt Buckle 1 yard run (Buckle kick) 1:27
Third Quarter
P — Jayden Duncan 9 yard pass from Tyler Duncan (Roth kick) 9:36
P — Reade Pendleton 2 yard run (PAT blocked) 7:30
V — Colt Buckle 2 yard run (PAT blocked) 4:56
P — Devon Lattimore 71 yard pass from Tyler Duncan (Duncan run) 3:23
V — Carter Nickel 23 yard pass from George Arnett (Buckle run) 2:10
P — Beau Hammond 1 yard run (Roth kick) 1:32
Fourth Quarter
P — Devon Lattimore 27 yard pass from Tyler Duncan (Roth kick)11:47
Portsmouth Valley
First downs 16 22
Rushes-yards 21-58 39-143
Passing yards 286 259
Total yards 334 402
Fumbles-lost 4-0 4-3
Penalties-yards 9-55 6-37
Punts-Ave 5-32.6 3-25.3
Individual Leaders
RUSHING- Portsmouth: Brenden Truitt 4-23, Tyler Duncan1-3, Reade Pendleton 2-7 TD, Beau Hammond 13-30 TD, Jayden Duncan 1-(-5); Valley: George Arnett 13-61, Gabe McNeil 9-4, Colton Buckle 17-78 3TD.
PASSING- Portsmouth: Tyler Duncan 18-30-1 4 TD; Valley: George Arnett 21-33-1 TD , Carter Nickel 1-2-1.
RECIEVING- Portsmouth: Devon Lattimore 6-159 3TD, Nolan Heiland 2-64, Reade Pendleton 4-39, Beau Hammond 4-5, Jayden Duncan 2-19 TD; Valley: Gabe McNeil 2-11, Hunter Edwards 1-19, Jaekyn Ridout 4-26, Carter Nickel 4-106 TD, Aiden Waughtel 2-11.
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