Too much bliss for Fort Cherry in the state semifinals

CLARION – Aiden Bliss’ outstanding point total to advance to Friday’s Class A semifinals looked like something out of a “Madden” football game.

The Port Allegany junior backed up his stats as he rushed for 284 yards on 35 carries, scored five touchdowns and had five two-point conversion attempts in the Gators’ 46-8 victory over Fort Cherry at PennWest Clarion’s Memorial Stadium.

Port Allegany (13-1) plays Bishop Guilfoyle for the state championship on Thursday at Cumberland Valley High School’s Chapman Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m

“Our kids executed the game plan set out by the coaches to the letter,” Port Allegany coach Justin Bienkowski said. “We want them to feel us. That was the biggest focus. It’s difficult to attack people for four quarters, especially with some of the linemen we have and Aiden (Bliss) as a running back. We just wanted them to know we’re here and you better hold on for four quarters.”

The Rangers’ season ends at 14-1, but coach Tanner Garry wants his team to remember a second straight WPIAL championship and a trip to the state semifinals.

“When you lose like we did today, it’s only going to motivate our kids,” Garry said. “We made it to the state championship last year and obviously we wanted to get back there and try to find a way to redeem ourselves this year. We didn’t get there, which means we now have more work to do.”

It was no secret that the Gators lived and died with Bliss, and Port Allegany took the first kickoff and went for a touchdown, which Bliss capped off with a 13-yard touchdown run with 5:07 left in the first quarter. Bliss scored the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Bliss scored from one yard out on the Gators’ next drive and added another two-point conversion run for a 16-0 lead with 11:20 left in the second quarter.

Fort Cherry drove to Port Allegheny’s 17 on the ensuing drive, but the Gators forced a turnover on downs.

Port Allegheny extended its lead to 24-0 when Isaac Postlewait scored on a 21-yard fumble and Bliss scored the two-pointer with 6:38 left in the second period.

The Rangers were hampered by five turnovers.

“You want your team to play their best in situations like this and we just didn’t play our best ball tonight,” Garry said. “This is a fantastic football team, but we were too injured in this game to really be able to play.”

Bliss scored his third touchdown from seven yards out with 4:17 left before halftime.

Fort Cherry got on the scoreboard with 20 seconds left in the second quarter when Matt Sieg scored on a 10-yard run and added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 32-8.

The Rangers got the kickoff in the second half but couldn’t get their offense going and Bliss scored on a 44-yard run with 7:53 left in the third quarter.

Bliss scored on a 35-yard run with 3:44 left in the third. He was stopped on the two-point conversion attempt, but the Gators have the mercy rule in effect.