Four downs from Portland's 28-13 win over Lansing Sexton

PORTLAND — Here are four downs from Portland football’s 28-13 win over Lansing Sexton to start conference play.

Portland running back Carson Spenski: The senior running back got Portland’s offense going late in the first quarter when he broke free down the left sideline for a 52-yard game, setting up his teammate in senior Alex Atwell for a 2-yard score.

Spenski had a few more explosive runs while rushing for over 100 yards, capped off by his 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that put the Raiders up 28-7 and essentially iced the game.

Trailing 7-6 at the start of the second quarter, Portland was driving and inside the Sexton 20-yard line, primed to take the lead on the J-Dubbs.

Junior quarterback Carson Simon took the snap and was ready to hand it off, but the exchanged was bobbled and the ball was suddenly on the ground. But, Portland offensive lineman Tristian Pohl was the first to pick it up, saving the Raiders from a costly red zone turnover.

However, Pohl wasn’t done. Instead of just falling on it, Pohl scooped the ball up and turned up field, bull-rushing his way to a 14-yard touchdown that put the Raiders ahead.

Portland fumbles on the snap, but offensive lineman Tristan Pohl picks it up and scores from 14 yards out.

2-point conversion is good. Raiders lead 14-7 with 11:54 left in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/ECf0Ee4r7e

— Nathaniel Bott (@Nathaniel_Bott) September 3, 2026

Sexton started the game with a lengthy drive that ended with a turnover on downs deep in Portland territory, but quickly forced a three-and-out defensively and went right down the field for a touchdown to take an early lead.

Following that drive, Portland’s defense stepped up in a massive way, constantly pressuring Sexton quarterbacks Abdual Carter-Foreman and Zion Mathis, with seniors Evan Pung and Liam Wolfe finishing with two sacks each.

Senior Tayin Curtis had an interception in the end zone that stopped the J-Dubbs from equalizing at the end of the first half, and Sexton never got going again until the final drive of the game, where Sexton receiver Willie Brown scored on a 16-yard pass from Carter-Foreman.

Portland’s CAAC White winning streak stays alive, with another tough test coming next week against Olivet, who handled Lansing Catholic to start league play.

“We’re a run-first football team, and the kids did a good job of that tonight against a very talented Sexton team. We played great defense, and I think that group really set the tone for us, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to live and die by our identity.” – Portland coach John Novara

Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Four downs from Portland’s 28-13 win over Lansing Sexton