Portland football uses big plays to win Battle of the Bridge

Portland High Claims Battle of the Bridge, 27‑7, to Secure No. 2 Seed in Class A North

Portland, Maine — The Portland High Bulldogs dominated the South Portland Red Riots in a 27‑7 victory on Friday night, earning a 7‑2 record and the No. 2 seed in the Class A North playoffs. The win also marked Portland’s sixth straight triumph over the Red Riots in the storied “Battle of the Bridge,” while South Portland fell to a 4‑5 mark for the season.

The game, played at South Portland’s home field, saw Portland’s offense explode for three long‑range touchdowns and a powerful running attack. Alex Martin, who rushed for 112 yards and two scores on 18 carries, opened the game with a 69‑yard run after a direct snap that caught the defense off guard. The Bulldogs added a 73‑yard touchdown pass from Reece Wildes to Martin and a 56‑yard rushing score from David Gomes on the next play.

South Portland’s only points came on an 18‑yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shea Healy to Ronin Westin. The Red Riots never passed 66 yards in the first half and finished with 235 yards of offense, while Portland’s defense held the Red Riots to 107 rushing yards and a single rushing touchdown.

The Bulldogs’ two‑thirds‑time North champions were not just riding a strong offense. Defensive coordinator’s comments underscored the team’s discipline: “We’re in,” said Portland’s first‑year head coach Dylan Rottkov, a South Portland native. “We’re 7‑2. We cleaned up the penalties a little bit. We’ve been talking for a while about cleaning those up and having better execution. We’re moving in the direction of playing clean football.”

Rottkov also acknowledged the playoff implications, adding, “Obviously, we’d love to be the No. 1 seed, but we’re in an amazing spot. We just need to take it day‑by‑day, win the practice, and it accumulates in the game.”

Portland’s running backs had a standout day. Gomes’ 128 yards on eight carries included a 56‑yard touchdown run, aided by a well‑blocked lane. He praised the offensive line: “Credit to the O‑line for blocking, especially Bailey (Jordan) and Will (Lukoki).” When asked about his stiff‑arm, Gomes credited Martin’s film study for the move.

The Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator noted the team’s balanced attack, with 18 rushing attempts from Martin and 8 from Gomes. The passing game saw Wildes connect for 136 yards on nine of twelve completions, including a touchdown and an interception that highlighted the high‑stakes nature of the rivalry.

South Portland’s coach, Aaron Filieo, reflected on the loss in the wake of a tough season. “We’re in,” he said, adding that South Portland could still finish fourth in the North standings. Filieo pointed to the strength of the New Hampshire teams that lost to other North rivals as a factor: “The New Hampshire team that beat South Portland (Winnacunnet, with a 6‑2 record) is better than the New Hampshire team that lost to Noble (Dover, which is 2‑6).”

With the Bulldogs now tied for the No. 2 seed behind Windham, Portland will host a semifinal against the No. 3 seed next week. The team’s victory in the Battle of the Bridge—its sixth straight win in the rivalry—also deepened South Portland’s all‑time deficit to 56‑51‑3.

Portland’s senior kicker, Justin Bouchard, was on the field as a two‑way starter, contributing tackles on defense and a reception on offense. Though the game was largely run‑dominated, Bouchard’s presence underscored the team’s depth.

Statistically, Portland finished with 18 rushing attempts from Martin for 112 yards, 8 from Gomes for 128 yards, and 136 passing yards for Wildes. South Portland finished with 18 rushing attempts from Chris Salamone for 107 yards; Healy threw 115 yards with one touchdown and one interception on six of 19 attempts.

The Bulldogs’ 27‑point margin of victory and 7‑2 record secure a home semifinal and a chance to defend their 2024 state title. Meanwhile, South Portland will regroup for a possible fourth‑place finish and an eventual matchup against the unbeaten Thornton Academy if the playoff brackets align.

As the playoff picture tightens, both teams will look to the next games to confirm their standings, but for now Portland can celebrate a hard‑earned victory in one of the state’s most anticipated high‑school football rivalry matchups.