By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
MADISON – The statistics showed one thing, but the scoreboard proved another.
The Bay Port football team saw its season end one game short of a WIAA Division 1 state title.
The Pirates (13-1) couldn’t find the answers in a 21-10 loss to No. 1 ranked Muskego (14-0) at Camp Randall Stadium Nov. 22.
The Warriors, who have won 28 straight games, won their second consecutive state title.
Despite outgaining Muskego 315-195 in total yardage and winning the time-of-possession battle by nearly a two-to-one margin, Bay Port couldn’t overcome three turnovers and several big plays by the Warriors.
“It was a great season for us, but Muskego made more plays than we did,” said Bay Port head coach Gary Westerman. “Our defense played great the whole game. We gave up a few big plays, but they struggled to move the ball consistently.”
Bay Port was able to move the ball in spurts but bogged down near the red zone on numerous occasions.
“Offensively, we moved the ball but weren’t able to convert on third down and finish drives,” Westerman said. “We had guys open but weren’t able to connect on the explosive plays. Hats off to Muskego – they’re a great football team. I’m proud of my guys. We made it to the state title game.”
The Pirates, who were 4-of-16 on third down, ran 73 offensive plays compared to the Warriors’ 37.
Bay Port recorded 17 first downs to Muskego’s seven.
The turning point occurred early in the third quarter.
Trailing 14-3, the Pirates failed to connect on a touchdown catch in the end zone on second down.
Two plays later, Bay Port quarterback Andrew Thomas was sacked and lost the ball, leading to a 60-yard, scoop-and-score the other way by the Warriors for a 21-3 lead.
“That was a 14-point swing on the turnover,” said Westerman. “We got them to turn the ball over early, and we turned it over late.”
After a series of three-and-outs by both teams to begin the game, Bay Port took a 3-0 lead on Austin Hiem’s 25-yard field goal near the end of the first quarter.
The field goal, which was Hiem’s first make of the year, came after a Muskego fumble.
One play before the field goal, Bay Port’s Isaiah Gash nearly hauled in a catch in the end zone from Thomas but had it knocked away at the last second.
The Pirates had a first and goal at the Warriors 7-yard line, but runs on first and second down resulted in a 1-yard loss.
Bay Port’s second drive of the game saw it go from its own 13 to the Muskego 30.
Gash lost two yards on second down, Thomas rushed for no gain on the next play and Ben Storby was stopped on fourth down.
The Warriors went ahead 14-3 halfway through the second quarter on back-to-back touchdowns.
It was only the second time all season the Pirates trailed on the scoreboard.
On Muskego’s first touchdown drive, it was faced with a third and six at the Bay Port 46.
Quarterback Connor Grohman completed a 41-yard pass to Ryan Harrison to the 5-yard line.
The Warriors scored on the next play.
On its next scoring drive, Muskego had a third and four at the Pirates’ 46, and again, it came up with a big play.
Alex Current rushed for 36 yards to the 10-yard line.
Two plays later, the Pirates trailed by 11 points.
Down 21-3 to start the fourth quarter, Bay Port’s Mitchell Merhalski hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Thomas on a jet sweep for the final points of the night.
Merhalski was initially ruled out of bounds at the 1-yard line, but a referee review changed the play to a touchdown.
The score ended a 16-play, 92-yard drive.
Trailing by the final margin late in the game and forced to throw the ball, the Pirates’ last two drives ended in interceptions.
Gash, the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Large School Offensive Player of the Year, ended with 185 yards on 32 carries.
All-state linebacker Call Verlanic led the Pirates’ defense with 12 tackles.