Islanders freeze out Portsmouth in early Thanksgiving game

Middletown dominates on both sides of the ball against young PHS team

Posted 11/22/18

MIDDLETOWN — The Portsmouth Patriots’ youth, inexperience and injuries were all on display during an early Thanksgiving matchup against their annual rivals, the Middletown …

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Islanders freeze out Portsmouth in early Thanksgiving game

Middletown dominates on both sides of the ball against young PHS team

Posted

MIDDLETOWN — The Portsmouth Patriots’ youth, inexperience and injuries were all on display during an early Thanksgiving matchup against their annual rivals, the Middletown Islanders.

Portsmouth kept it close in the first quarter, with Middletown holding a 16-14 lead. Everything went the Islanders’ way after that, however, with the home team holding Portsmouth scoreless for the next three quarters.

On their way to a 51-14 victory, the Islanders piled up 446 yards of total offense, while Portsmouth managed 204 yards.

It was Middletown’s first Thanksgiving win against their island rivals since 2014. Portsmouth holds a 33-19 advantage in the 50-year-plus series.

The contest, traditionally held on Thanksgiving morning, was moved to Wednesday night due to anticipated high winds and freezing temperatures forecast for Thursday. Several other schools around the state also rescheduled, while the Tiverton-Rogers game was canceled outright.

The conditions weren’t exactly ideal Wednesday either, with low temperatures and swirling winds making for challenging playing conditions.

The cold didn’t seem to hamper Middletown’s offense, however. The Islanders began the night with a nine-play, 67-yard drive that ended with Mason Gilman running it in from four yards out. Gilman later ran for a 48-yard touchdown in the quarter, and both times the Islanders’ added on successful two-point conversions.

Portsmouth hung tight with them in the first quarter, however. Jake Letourneau recovered a fumble in the end zone to score for Portsmouth, and Connor Stone found himself on the receiving end of a 14-yard touchdown thrown by quarterback Dan McKinnon, making it 16-14 going in to the second quarter.

That’s when the Islanders’ Devin Russ took over, and Portsmouth could do little to contain him.

Capping off a 44-yard, seven play scoring drive, Russ carried the ball five yards into the end zone and then scored on a 39-yard run later in the quarter, making it 30-14 at halftime.

Russ came out strong to start the third quarter, taking the ball for a 30-yard touchdown run.

Middletown’s scoring didn’t stop there. Konner Kluth ran it in from three yards out and Mason Gilman carried the ball for 35 yards into the end zone to make the final score 51-14.

Portsmouth had a challenging season, losing starting quarterback Kyle Bicho to injury in week four. In addition, the roster is full of boys with little playing time under their belts, and some playing in positions that are new to them.

Dan McKinnon, who was was a slot receiver when he stepped up to take Bicho’s place at center, was dealing with a wrist injury Wednesday night that hampered his throwing. He rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries, and went 12 for 20 on passes for 129 yards. He was also picked off twice in the first half.

As is tradition following the annual contest, athletic directors from each school choose the opposing team’s most valuable player. 

The Patriots’ Brian Hamilton was chosen MVP by Middletown, while Portsmouth Athletic Director Stephen Trezvant selected the Islanders' Devin Russ.

Portsmouth High School, PHS football

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.