Taft’s Portis on Receiving End in Victory Over Birmingham

Josh Portis, an acrobatic senior quarterback at Woodland Hills Taft, put on a fourth-quarter show to remember Friday, catching the game-winning touchdown on his only play as a receiver with 46 seconds left to give the Toreadors a 28-21 West Valley League victory over host Lake Balboa Birmingham.

“He was outrageous,” Taft Coach Troy Starr said of the 6-foot-3 Portis, who has committed to Utah.

Portis started the game with five consecutive completions and touchdown passes of 23 and 78 yards to Jamere Holland. But his confidence seemed shaken after three interceptions.

Then, in the fourth quarter, he broke off a 39-yard run and scored on a seven-yard run to put Taft (7-1 overall, 3-0 in league), ranked No. 17 by The Times, on top, 21-14, with 6:35 left. Portis finished with 141 yards rushing in 20 carries.

No. 21 Birmingham (4-4, 2-1), which lost two fumbles and made numerous mental mistakes, tied the score with 1:30 left on a three-yard touchdown run by Brian Stuart, who finished with 110 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Portis led Taft down the field to the 15-yard line, contributing a 41-yard run. Starr decided to put in Thyrell Lewis at quarterback, and he lofted the ball high into the end zone for Portis, who leaped over a couple of defenders for the catch.

“It was a great win,” said Starr, whose team was upset by Birmingham in the 2002 City championship game. “They’re a great team.”

Patriot quarterback Andrew Miramontes completed 18 of 28 for 277 yards with one interception.