By HORACE HOLLOMAN
hholloman@statesboroherald.com

    PORTAL - The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Portal Panthers this week as they gear up to take on highly-touted Savannah Christian in a sub-region matchup today.
    The Panthers (1-6, 1-2 Region 3-A(A)) are coming off a tough 35-0 loss to Calvary Day and were shutout for the first time this season.
    Despite the score, interim head coach Matt Smith said his team put up a strong fight against the Cavaliers. But a hard fought battle comes with a price to pay. As a result of a rough game against Calvary Day, the Panthers came out a little banged up for Friday’s action.
    “One thing I told the guys after the game Friday night is that I could not have been more proud of how they played. All night long we played as hard as we could. Everything we had, we gave. I told them to hold their heads up,” Smith said. “They played well and they played hard.
“It took it’s toll, and as a result, they were really beat up.”
    The Panthers’ coaching staff decided to go easy on the players this week. On Monday, the team had a film session and were then allowed to go home and rest up.
    Portal will have just 27 players on today’s active roster.
    Portal will try to avoid its second straight loss to Savannah Christian. Here’s a few factors that could be key in today’s matchup.

What to watch: Flexbone
    The Raiders of Savannah Christian liike to run a “flexbone” offense, similar to Georgia Southern University. The flexbone is an option-style offense, a style of offense the Panthers have had trouble with in the past.
    So far this year, the Raiders are averaging 258 yards on the ground per game. Senior Demetris Robertson is having a breakout season thus far. He’s got 404 yards on the ground this year, despite only 43 carries.
    “They (Savannah Christian) think they’re bigger and tougher and they play like it. It’s going to take the same type of effort. We have to play as hard as we can. We have to win the little battles,” Smith said.
    The Portal defense will certainly have their hands full stopping the flexbone against a team with 19 rushing touchdowns on the year.

Who to watch: Darius Huff
    Once again, starting quarterback Jake Brown is out of the starting lineup due to injuries. According to Coach Smith, Brown underwent the concussion protocol and everything looks to be in order. However, Smith said he did not want to risk any further injury to Brown by putting him back in the game too soon.
    “At this point, he’s cleared to come back but there’s no point in risking his health,” Smith said.
    Darius Huff will be starting in Brown’s place.
    Huff will have to move the ball effectively against the Raiders’ defense in order for Portal to have a chance at victory.

    Key factor: Positive plays
    Against an experienced team such as Savannah Christian, Smith said it will be important for his team to view each possession and play as a small battle within the game.
    Getting positive yards and not taking tackles for a loss could become big momentum boost for the Panthers.
    During a film study session Monday, Smith pointed out to his team that they could compete with Calvary Day if they continue to work on being technically sound.
    ““We wanted to point out good things and bad things. There were plays where we did everything right and got five or six yards, and then there were plays where we may have stepped the wrong way and didn’t do things correctly,” Smith said. “Even against a superior team when we do things correctly we have success.”

    Horace Holloman may be reached at (912) 489-9408.