By Rich Palzewic
Contributing Writer
DE PERE – With the Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) football title on the line, Mother Nature
decided to take center stage.
With heavy rain and high winds, Bay Port downed West De Pere in a battle of conference
unbeatens on Oct. 13, 45-34.
With the victory, the Pirates (7-2 overall, 7-0 FRCC) won their second consecutive FRCC title.
Bay Port also beat the Phantoms in last season’s regular-season finale to win the conference
championship.
“It’s awesome – we battled and found a way,” Bay Port Coach Gary Westerman said. “We didn’t
play great all the time, but we got it done. I’m blessed to be a small part of this group.”
On the opening drive of the game, the Pirates featured a steady dose of running back Tevyn
Montgomery, who eventually scored on a six-yard touchdown run.
After Owen Bellisle’s extra point, Bay Port led 7-0.
The rain didn’t stop the Phantoms (7-2, 6-1) from throwing the ball on their opening drive.
West De Pere went more to the run game on its second possession, and it paid off in the form
of Andrew Baumgart’s seven-yard rushing TD early in the second quarter.
Brandon Schaefer’s extra point tied the game at 7-7.
Montgomery scored his second TD of the game late in the second quarter from four yards out.
Bellisle’s extra point made it 14-7 with 4:46 remaining before halftime.
That’s when things got interesting.
West De Pere scored a minute later when Shovald spun out of a possible sack and fired a long
pass downfield to Benjamin Lemorande, who snagged the ball and raced 77 yards for a score.
After the extra point was blocked, the Pirates led 14-13.
Running the option on its next possession, Bay Port’s Carter Kallies dashed 88 yards for a score
48 seconds later to make it 21-13 after Bellisle’s extra point.
After the Phantoms failed to move the ball on their next possession, Kallies connected with a
wide-open James Williams in the middle of the field for a 55-yard score.
The four combined TDs late in the half were scored in a 3-minute, 54-second span.
The second half also started with a bang.
After West De Pere fumbled to begin the half, the Pirates appeared set to take a three-score
lead, but a Kallies pass was intercepted by Kruise VanDenHeuvel.
On the first play after the INT, Shovald connected with Nathan Held on a 55-yard bomb.
After the Schaefer extra point, Bay Port led 28-20.
Four minutes later, on a fourth-and-one play from the West De Pere 24-yard line, Baumgart
rumbled 76 yards for a score to make it 28-26 halfway through the third quarter.
The 2-pt. conversion attempt was no good.
The Pirates restored order soon thereafter when Kallies had a one-yard rushing TD and
followed that up with a 35-yard TD pass to Blake Buchinger late in the third quarter.
“That was a huge momentum swing,” Westerman said. “It was a bit disappointing we gave up
some big plays, but we were explosive on offense.”
A Bellisle 17-yard field goal and a Shovald four-yard TD pass to Isaac Kaster, followed by
Baumgart’s 2-pt. conversion ended the scoring.
Several Bay Port starters played both ways, including Kallies.
The senior quarterback/defensive back was 6-of-8 passing for 148 yards and also added 177
yards rushing on 20 carries.
On one of Kallies’ rushing attempts late in the game, he landed hard on his shoulder and came
out of the game.
“I’ll be fine,” Kallies said. “I just landed on it a bit awkward.”
Kallies said it was a great team win.
“We’re trying to get to Madison (for state),” he said. “We can celebrate this win for now,
though. West De Pere is a very good football team – they’ve proven that in the last few years.
I’ve got a lot of respect for them.”
Montgomery added 106 yards rushing on 20 attempts, while Landon Gauthier and Max
Romenesko each had two sacks on defense.
For the Phantoms, Shovald was 10-of-17 passing for 225 yards with three TD passes, and
Baumgart rushed for 98 yards on eight attempts.
The Pirates outgained West De Pere in total offense, 447-373.