Panthers improve to 3-0 after win over Huskies

OLEAN, NY— Junior Hayden Schappacher scored three rushing touchdowns as Portville High School defeated Olean High School 26-21 at Bradner Stadium Friday night. 

On Portville’s first offensive play, Schappacher scored an 82-yard rushing touchdown to give the visitors an early 7-0 advantage. 

Schappacher said the opening-play touchdown helped his confidence for the rest of the game.

“I felt a lot more confident after the opening play,” Schappacher said. “That felt great. It was a great play call, I broke a few tackles, and just took it to the house.”

Over five minutes later, Olean’s sophomore quarterback Dom Myers tied the game after scrambling for a 57-yard rushing touchdown. 

On the next drive, the Panthers regained the lead after senior quarterback Peyton Carter scored on a two-yard run. 

Five minutes into the second quarter, Schappacher ripped the ball out of a Huskie ball carrier, creating a fumble, and outraced the rest of the Olean offense for a 43-yard fumble recovery touchdown.

Down 20-7, Olean scored two touchdowns within the game's next five minutes. First junior running back Hunter Silvis found the end zone on a 13-yard run, and with 31 seconds left in the first half, Olean took the lead after Myers connected with a wide-open junior receiver Mason Hirliman. The Huskies led the visitors 21-20 at halftime.

With 3:18 remaining in the third quarter, Schappacher scored his third and final touchdown of the night on an eight-yard run.

Portville shut the Huskies out in the second half and forced a turnover on downs with just over a minute left to secure the victory.

Panthers head coach Josh Brooks said his team made just enough plays to win the game.

“The game gave me grey hair,” Brooks said. “Good football teams find a way to win and it’s not always perfect or pretty, and we needed to make a play.”

Brooks said the atmosphere provided an experience the players will never forget.

“We appreciate this environment,” Brooks said. “Not just Portville, but Cuba-Rushford and Bolivar-Richburg, and all these local people who supported each team tonight; it was a really cool experience that the players will never forget.”

Olean falls to 0-3 and will visit East Aurora/Holland on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. Portville advances to 3-0 and hosts Falconer on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. 

Feature Image Courtesy of Tim Bush