BY RICH PALZEWIC
SPORTS EDITOR
SUAMICO – The Bay Port football team capped off an undefeated regular season, but may have lost two big pieces in the process.
The No. 6-ranked Pirates (9-0 overall, 9-0 FRCC) dominated from start to finish in a 48-6 Fox River Classic Conference victory over Green Bay Preble (6-3, 6-3) at Bay Port High School Oct. 12.
With the Homecoming win, the Pirates won their 27th straight conference game dating back to the 2015 season.
With a relatively young squad, especially defensively, don’t expect the FRCC streak to end anytime soon.
“It’s exciting what we have done,” said Bay Port head coach Gary Westerman. “I like our attitude more now – it’s kind of expected that we win. Some people might say that’s a bad thing, but I don’t. I’m really proud of the kids and the way they have prepared every week. To go through an entire conference season and not have a letdown and really be dominant in every game. We didn’t play a close game this whole season and that says something about our team.”
Despite the victory, Bay Port has reason to be concerned after quarterback Jake Plummer went down with a right shoulder injury after a hard tackle on the opening drive of the game, and running back Isaiah Gash left with a lower-leg injury shortly thereafter. Both players didn’t return, with Gash being seen in a walking boot.
In Gash’s absence, running back Carter Zawlocki rushed for 183 yards and five touchdowns.
“Injuries happen,” Westerman said. “I felt like our guys got tackled with one horse-collar and two others weren’t called on Gash and Plummer. Those are things that need to be called and can’t happen. The flag isn’t going to stop the injury, but maybe if the first one had been called, the second one doesn’t occur. All that being said, our kids stepped up and played great.”
Junior quarterback Andrew Thomas took over for Plummer and mainly handed the ball off to Zawlocki, who scored all five of his touchdowns in the first half.
“Andrew Thomas is a great quarterback,” noted Westerman. “He’s really prepared well for this. Carter is a great back – he just happens to be behind Isaiah in the lineup. I think Gash will be okay going forward.”
Before leaving the game, Gash, the son of former NFL running back Sam Gash, had 59 yards rushing on just three carries and scored the first touchdown of the game just a minute into the contest. He ended the regular season with 1,322 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns.
The Pirates gained 339 yards of total offense, with the defense holding the Hornets to just 124.
Jake Berg had an interception for Bay Port, while Nathan Klaas recovered a fumble.
Defensive lineman Max Meeuwsen was his usual, menacing self to the opposition – being in the backfield it seemed on almost every play.
The Pirates will find out their WIAA postseason fate later this weekend when the brackets come out, but in each of the last two seasons, Bay Port has been a No. 1 seed and hosted three playoff games.
“I am not sure how things will shake out,” added Westerman about the playoffs. “The bracket could be pretty tough, but I really don’t care to be honest. You have to beat everyone to win a championship anyway.”
Box score
Preble: 0, 0, 0, 0 – 6
Bay Port: 28, 13, 7, 0 – 48