Two Portage High School alumni will face off on a big stage on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Purdue and Western Michigan will meet in the Little Caesars Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. Former PHS teammates Albert Evans and Clark Mussman play for Purdue and Western Michigan, respectively.
Evans and Mussman were teammates in high school football, basketball and track and field. Mussman is a redshirt sophomore who is having a breakout season as a tight end, while Evans is a senior safety. Both Portage graduates have made significant contributions to their teams this season.
Mussman has made six catches for 31 yards and two touchdowns this year despite missing time with a dislocated shoulder. His first touchdown grab of his college career took place on Sept. 10 against Nicholls State, followed by a spectacular catch against Toledo on Nov. 8 in a game that many Portage residents had the chance to view on ESPNU.
Evans is a standout on the Purdue defense. He was able to step up as a leader this season, while recording 69 tackles and an interception. Evans rushed for 743 yards during his senior season of high school. For most of his high school career he played for head coach Craig Buzea. Evans credits Buzea for helping him become the athlete and person that he is today.
Mussman starred as a wide receiver in high school. He served as the team’s captain as a senior and was awarded the Myron Fessler Mental Attitude Award. Mussman was also an All-State, All-Conference and All-Area selection as well as a Griddy Award Winner and North-South All-Star Game participant.
The Boilermakers finished the season with a record of 6-6, narrowly earning a bowl berth by beating Indiana University 33-25. The Broncos roll into the bowl season with a 7-5 record. They suffered narrow losses to Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Illinois this season.
The game will kick-off at 3:30 Central Time on ESPN, giving the two Portage graduates a chance to play in front of a nationwide audience.
Two former PHS teammates playing against one another in a game as big as this one is unprecedented in recent years. Evans and Mussman are in a select group of athletes who are able to continue their career at the collegiate level. They are also in the group of athletes who are able to play for Division-I schools, which is even more exclusive. Having two Portage graduates play prominent roles on bowl eligible teams that meet in a big bowl game is unheard of.
Both men are enjoying the ride, but at the same time are eager to notch a victory. The Boilermakers had an up-and-down season that resulted in the .500 mark and Evans would like nothing more than to close out his senior season with a Little Caesars Bowl championship. However, Mussman and the Broncos like their chances of upstaging Purdue.
It should be a great game and a fantastic representation of the city of Portage!