Portal hasn't had much luck against McIntosh County Academy recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Panthers will host the Buccaneers at 7:30 p.m. Portal has given up an average of 33.2 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Portal is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 35 points last Friday, they were much more limited against Screven County on Friday. They took a blow against the Gamecocks, falling 42-7. The Panthers were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 28-0.
Meanwhile, McIntosh County Academy entered their tilt with Savannah on Friday with two consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with three. They strolled past the Bluejackets with points to spare, taking the game 35-20. The Buccaneers pushed the score to 28-8 by the end of the third, a deficit the Bluejackets cut but never quite recovered from.
Portal better keep an eye on Mekhi Jackson. He was instrumental in McIntosh County Academy's win, throwing for 117 yards and two touchdowns on only seven passes, while also rushing for 52 yards and one score on only seven carries. Jackson's passing game has become a key predictor of the Buccaneers' success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-4 otherwise.
McIntosh County Academy's run defense was locked in: Savannah could only muster -1.6 yards per carry. The team can thank Jiquez Billue for the heroic effort on defense: he. McIntosh County Academy's ground attack was stronger, having averaged 4.4.
McIntosh County Academy's defense didn't let Romelo Milton, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Jackson, Al Thorpe, and Jayden Lotson, who each picked up one sack apiece. McIntosh County Academy got some further help from Billue: he made eight total tackles (1.0 for loss) and snagged an interception.
McIntosh County Academy now has a winning record of 5-4. As for Portal, their loss dropped their record down to 3-6.
Portal took a serious blow against McIntosh County Academy in their previous matchup back in November of 2024, falling 40-0. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
