CIF STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION 6-AA

Portola (9-6) vs. Arcata (13-1)

Where, when: Fullerton High, Saturday, 7 p.m.

Parking: Free

Outlook: Portola is making its first state championship appearance in the school’s brief seven-year history. The Bulldogs beat King/Drew 35-34 in overtime in the Southern regional championship game due to a game-saving tackle on a 2-point conversion by defensive lineman Reggie Thorn.

Timothy Grettenberg ran for 166 yards with four touchdowns for the Bulldogs and Nash Luper threw a touchdown pass to Anthony Riccardi. Portola has two 1,000-yard rushers in Grettenberg and Diego Reyna and averages 155 yards per game on the ground.

Portola quarterback Nash Luper gets ready to fire a pass against King/Drew in the CIF Southern California Regional Division 6-AA championship football game in Wilmington on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Maxwell Mapstone leads the defense with 193 tackles, which is the second most in the Southern Section. Defensive end Adam Nofal has 11.5 sacks and the Bulldogs have forced 20 turnovers.

Arcata won the North Coast Section Division 6 championship and beat Winters 35-14 in its championship game. The Tigers have scored over 40 points in five of their last seven games.

“They are in the state championship for a reason,” Portola coach Peter Abe said of Arcata. “They have big, tall physical receivers and a gigantic line. We have our hands full Saturday for sure.”

Arcata is led by junior quarterback Luke Lemke, who has thrown 35 touchdown passes and ran for 1,708 yards with 21 touchdowns. The Tigers’ defense has 92 tackles for a loss and has 28 interceptions.

Lemke is one of the best playmakers in Northern California, but Portola has experience against top playmakers this season like Joseph Harper (Northwood) and Jahmir Torres (King/Drew).

“I look forward to our kids stepping up to the challenge as they have done for the past five weeks,” Abe said.

Prediction: Arcata. Portola will have trouble keeping Lemke and Arcata’s offense off the scoreboard and Arcata’s defensive line will make it difficult for Portola to run the ball. Portola will need to put together long scoring drives and force at least one turnover to bring home its first state championship.

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