BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT
SUAMICO – The Pirates football team will get another stiff Fox River Classic Conference test Friday when they host undefeated Green Bay Southwest at 7:00. It most likely will determine the FRCC champion.
The Division 2 Trojans come in at 6-0 and are ranked No. 7 in the latest Wissports.net weekly poll. They were 42-7 winners over winless Sheboygan South in week six.
Division 1 Bay Port is ranked No. 4 in the state and also comes in undefeated. The Pirates have won 15 FRCC games in a row, just two shy of tying Ashwaubenon’s mark of 17 straight from 2012-14. Bay Port hasn’t lost a conference game since October 16 of 2015 when they dropped a 26-7 contest to De Pere at home.
The two teams are the last remaining unbeatens in the FRCC. The Pirates are aiming to be the first repeat conference champ since the conference began in 2007.
“All the talk about 15 FRCC wins in a row is nice, but as coaches and players, we really don’t think about it,” said Bay Port head coach Gary Westerman. “Last year was a different team. This year’s team is trying to make their own mark.”
Bay Port has won four games in a row in the series, last losing to Southwest during the 2012 season. That includes a 27-6 Pirates’ victory a season ago, but this year’s Trojans’ team is averaging 35 points per game and giving up just 15.8 per contest – which is second in the league behind the Pirates.
Southwest has a balanced attack this year behind running back Josh Komis, who has rushed for 723 yards (3rd in the FRCC) and has scored 12 touchdowns (tied for 3rd). Quarterback Nick Howard has thrown for 1,309 yards and 14 touchdowns, while receiver Kaleb Keener has 471 yards receiving and 4 TDs.
Defensively, Josh Yasha leads the FRCC with five interceptions.
“I think Southwest is a real physical team,” said Spencer Van Pietersom, who had an interception in the Notre Dame game. “They have a really big running back, but I think we are up to the challenge and can hold our own.”
Bay Port comes in averaging 51.8 points per game and is giving up 14.8. Senior quarterback Isaac Krause has eight rushing TDs in the last three games, while Cordell Tinch, who missed last week’s game against the Tritons, has 25 catches for 393 yards and 5 TDs. Tinch will be available for the Southwest game.
Krause has thrown for 744 yards on 48-of-70 passing (69%) with 10 TD passes. He also leads the team with 521 yards rushing, while Jacob Calawerts and Isaiah Gash come in with 502 and 308 yards rushing respectively.
The Pirates lead the FRCC in scoring offense (311) and are second in the league in yards rushing per game (296).
Defensively, Bay Port leads the league in scoring defense (89) and is also second in both passing (441) and rushing yards allowed (709). Sophomore linebacker Call Verlanic leads the Pirates with 54 tackles.
To read the story, view pics and video of Bay Port’s 35-21 victory over previously undefeated Green Bay Notre Dame, CLICK HERE.
Notre Dame – 7, 14, 0, 0 – 21
Bay Port – 7, 7, 14, 7 – 35
First quarter
ND: Wes Glime 32 pass to Michael Gregoire (Andrew Gruesen kick)
BP: Isaac Krause 2 run (Owen Miller kick)
Second quarter
ND: Gregoire 1 run (Gruesen kick)
ND: Glime 16 pass to Tommy Martzhal (Gruesen kick)
BP: Krause 80 run (Miller kick)
Third quarter
BP: Krause 30 pass to Jacob Calawerts (Miller kick)
BP: Krause 15 run (Miller kick)
Fourth quarter
BP: Isaiah Gash 5 run (Austin Heim kick)
Individual leaders
Rushing: ND – Gregoire, 17-73; BP – Krause, 28-203.
Passing: ND – Glime, 10-27-150-2; BP – Krause, 9-17-126-2.
Receiving: ND – Gregoire, 4-74; BP – Calawerts, 2-62.