By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – It’s the matchup everyone wanted: Bay Port vs. Kimberly in the WIAA Division 1 state football semifinals.
In a rematch of last year’s Level 3 contest, the teams square off Friday, Nov. 15, at Titan Stadium on the campus of UW-Oshkosh at 7 p.m.
The winner will advance to the state championship game at Camp Randall in Madison Nov. 22 at 4 p.m.
Kimberly has played in the state title game six straight seasons, winning five championships in that span.
The Pirates (12-0), who are averaging 52 points a game and giving up less than seven, are seeking their first-ever trip to Camp Randall.
“Kimberly has been there so many times and knows how to win,” said Bay Port head coach Gary Westerman. “They are a storied program. We have our work cut out, but we will put the best product on the field on Friday. They have two talented kids in the backfield and play good defense.”
The Papermakers beat the Pirates last season, 38-20, but eventually lost in the title game to Muskego, 24-21.
“We are relatively healthy heading into this game,” said Westerman, who was an assistant coach at Kimberly prior to his time at Bay Port. “In 2014 [in the state semifinals with Alec Ingold], we were an injured unit. We tried to stay healthier this year and play more guys.”
Gash has rushed for 1,527 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Matt Grzybowski has chipped in with 853 yards and 12 scores.
Quarterback Andrew Thomas has tossed 20 touchdown passes and run for another 13.
Receiver Sam Plumb has 10 touchdown receptions.
Call Verlanic leads the team with 81 tackles, and Jayden Montgomery has added 70.
Navy recruit Max Meeuwsen has recorded 11.5 sacks from his defensive-line position.
Logan Geissler has intercepted six balls.
Discussing last year’s loss to the Papermakers, Westerman pinpointed his team’s difficulty.
“They caught us with a few big pass plays,” he said.
Kimberly (12-0) is coming off a 35-6 victory over Appleton North in Level 3 and has won 84 of its last 86 games.
From 2013 through the 2017 season, the Papermakers made national news by winning 70 consecutive games.
Kimberly, which is averaging 41.8 points a game and surrendering 15.6, is led by a double-headed monster in the backfield.
Alec Martzahl (1,669 yards, 17 touchdowns) and Caleb Frazier (1,382, 32) have combined for more than 3,000 yards rushing and 49 touchdowns.
Frazier also has a pair of touchdown receptions from quarterback Caden Pendleton.
Pendleton has completed 61.3 percent of his passes (84-of-137) for 1,446 yards with 14 touchdowns.
Receiver Conner Wnek has caught 66 balls for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns.
Defensively, the Papermakers are led by Deiondre Williams and Caleb Obermann, who have 90 and 83 tackles, respectively.
Obermann, who was the Fox Valley Association’s defensive player of the year, is out with injury after breaking his arm in a Level 1 game.