Defense turns tide for Port football

A good hard-hitting football game in front excited fans turned in Port Washington High School’s favor in the third quarter at Berlin on Friday.

The Pirates held on for a 24-14 victory to move to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in the East Central Conference while handing Berlin its first defeat of the season.

Port held a 14-6 halftime lead thanks to a Matt Esselmann interception in the end zone on the final play of the second quarter.

Berlin took the second-half kickoff and drove 74 yards to the Pirates’ 4-yard line, which included converting a fake punt on fourth and six, before Port’s defense held.

The Pirates’ offense then marched 96 yards in eight plays, ending the drive with a Brady Fleischmann three-yard touchdown run.

“Getting a stop to start the second half was huge, then going down and scoring,” Port coach John Bunyan said.

The Indians answered to make it, 21-14, and Port answered right back with a 30-yard field goal by Esselmann.

Port’s defense held on fourth down again, and the Pirates were able to run out the clock, choosing to take a knee inside the Indians’ 5-yard line instead of scoring again.

“It was a really hard-fought game,” Bunyan said. “Up front, we were bigger than they were, but they were athletic and tough.”

Fleischmann had 14 carries for 103 yards and two scores, and Lleyton Allen had 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 runs.

“They both are making some great gains. It’s good to have two backs so one doesn’t take the pounding,” Bunyan said.

Nate Uselding went 16-for-24 passing for 179 yards and a score, spreading the wealth among his receivers. Bunyan said Uselding missed a few deep throws and Port had a couple of dropped passes, but his junior quarterback was consistent for the most part.

Patrick Lippe caught four passes for 54 yards. Eli Perez caught five balls for 46 yards. Tight end Michael Bunyan, hobbled with a strained foot, caught four passes for 43 yards and Esselmann had two catches for 39 yards and a score.

On defense, linebacker J.D. Brahm had a handful of tackles for losses and recovered a fumble to stop a drive inside Port’s 30-yard-line in the second quarter. His play was especially important after Michael Bunyan was taken out of his defensive end spot and only played offense because of his foot injury.

“He definitely played well, especially when Michael was out,” coach Bunyan said, also praising defensive lineman Keegan Szydel for playing through an injured nose.

For Berlin, Cade Martin ran 14 times for 63 yards and a score, and Cole Buttke had six carries for 52 yards.

Hunter Boegh went 8-for-20 passing for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Martin caught one ball for 46 yards.

Bunyan said the Indians did things differently than Port saw on film, running delayed pass routes out of the backfield with their slot receiver and a screen pass that went for a 27-yard touchdown.

Port is tied for first with Plymouth in the East Central at 2-0. The Pirates host Ripon (0-2, 0-4) on Friday.

“It’s a really good start. Kids are continuing to work hard. I think we have some of our best football to come,” Bunyan said.