Playing in a stadium created for the blossoming National Football League 80 years ago, the Marion Catholic Fighting Irish showed a new offense and demeanor before ultimately succumbing to some Titans and their talented sophomore wide receiver.

Portsmouth Notre Dame defeated the Irish 20-18 in an aerially dominated contest that saw 80 passes thrown.

Spartan Municipal Stadium, separated from the Ohio River by a grassy barrier making for a perfect football-watching perch, once hosted the Portsmouth Spartans, a precursor to the hapless Detroit Lions.  The very first NFL night game was played within its walls.  The infamous "Iron Man" game was played there too, featuring a showdown with the Green Bay Packers.

Iron man football was on display again Saturday as both teams, small even by Division VI standards, played the same athletes on both sides of the ball.

Portsmouth, clad in the Notre Dame colors of navy blue and gold, hit the scoreboard first with an 8-yard strike from quarterback Brock Hannah to receiver Corey Stevens with 5:36 to go in the first quarter.

Less than four minutes later, Hannah was at it again, this time hitting Tyler Noel for 18 yards.

That combination was fluid and, at times, unstoppable, combining for 127 yards and several circus catches that came at the most opportune moments for Notre Dame. 

Finally, it was Marion Catholic's turn to answer back.

Kory Gates, a senior who missed all but one game last year with a broken leg, scrambled 13 yards for a score, set up by a steady stream of screens, slants, and quarterback draws. 

Gates was filling in for expected starter Marco Comianos, who lined up at receiver instead, suffering from "golfer's elbow" which limits the strength in his throwing arm.

The man wearing #5 on his jersey, however, was up to the task accounting for 198 yards through the air and adding 118 on the ground.

The final score for Portsmouth came at the 6:28 mark of the second quarter when Hannah kept the ball on an 8-yard scamper, bringing the score to 20-6.

In previous incarnations of Marion Catholic football, that score may have been the opening of the flood gates.  In game after game in Marion Catholic's recent history, early stands led to blowouts as they have been unable to answer the bell. 

Coach Tony Morris and his staff, with a full year under their belts to impart offensive philosophies to shape the habits of players, had the Irish ready this time.  There would be no rolling over.

Gates led his team methodically down the field, using a West Coast Offensive approach out of the spread.  He capped it off by finding Josiah Sayers in the end zone from 4 yards out, pulling Marion Catholic within a score at 20-12.

After the half, Marion Catholic continued showing their improved offense but defense became the name of the game with both teams showing a bend-but-don't-break attitude.

What would turn out to be the final score of the game came on a 15-yard Gates run.

With the score at 20-18, Marion Catholic went for the two point conversion out of a muddle-huddle formation.  The quick strike from Comianos - his only pass attempted - found its mark, but a lapse in blocking assignments stuffed the play, keeping Marion Catholic down by two.

Nate Jones dominated the Portsmouth line, continually mauling center Greg July.  Jones finished with 5 tackles, including two in which he met Portsmouth running back Alex Glockner in the backfield as he was receiving the handoff.  He also accounted for 2 sacks while adding several hurries and quarterback knockdowns.

Facing first and goal inches away from the goal line, Marion Catholic continued holding strong, using a botched long snap and stellar pass defense to work out of a jam.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Fighting Irish got the ball back and needed to score.

Again, showing small passing routes combined with the occasional draw, Marion Cathloic was able to move the ball down the field, but a high throw went through the hands of Tyler Granlee and into the waiting arms of Notre Dame's Yannis Hadjiyannis.

Notre Dame then went to work on running out the clock, but face a long third-down play.  Again, it was Noel who stepped up, making an acrobatic, sliding catch to move the chains and end any hopes of a Marion Catholic opening win.

Now, a short week awaits the Irish as they play host to Tuscarawas Central Catholic this Friday at 7:30.  The Saints beat Zanesville Rosencrans 40-7 in Week 1.