A Dom-inating first performance

It was playoff revenge for those old enough to remember and a hot start for everyone else as the Grafton High School football team rolled over New Berlin Eisenhower, 33-7, in last Friday’s season opener at home.
Sophomore quarterback Chase Norton threw three of his four touchdowns in the first half to help build a 24-7 lead.
North Shore Conference first team receiver Dominic Voiland caught two of his three in the first half, one in the first quarter for 39 yards and one in the second for five.
The Black Hawks scored 10 points in barely a minute’s time at the end of the second quarter. Norton hit running back Canon Pfaff for a 67-yard score, and kicker Silvio Lanza drilled a 41-yard field goal.
Pfaff ran 22 times for 70 yards and had six catches for 109 yards and a score, leading the team’s 115 yards on the ground.
“We definitely want to have those rushing yards increased quite a bit because of who we are offensively,” coach Jim Norris said. “For Game 1, it was a pretty solid performance. He’s a hard worker.”
Voiland had 10 catches for 96 yards and three scores.
“He’s been a stud since freshman year. That’s no surprise,” Norris said.
Norton ended up 17-for-26 for 214 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
“Obviously, he played well,” Norris said.
Norris was pleased with sophomore center Carson Faust, who he said played an “excellent game,” and sophomore fullback Clay Wiziarde, who was “phenomenal.”
Up front, University of Wisconsin-Madison commit J.P. Benzschawel made his presence known on both sides of the ball.
Lanza added a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Voiland caught a 19-yard score in the fourth.
The Black Hawks held the Lions to 123 yards. Defensive back Dylan Neumann picked off a pass on the Lions’ first drive, and linebacker Andrew Ovsepyan got an interception later in the game. The Hawks turned both into points.
The Lions’ score came off Grafton’s only turnover of the night.
“That’s how big turnovers are,” Norris said.
Praise on defense was spread around. Senior Chris Furness made his first start at defensive back, and Norris liked the play of Erik Navarette. Daniel Fandler at strong safety, Norrris said, “played absolutely crazy physical.”
Linebackers Kenny Likins, Preston Bonk, Ovsepyan and Andrew Ribecky, he said, “were just absolute studs.”
The defense had a mix of new starters but the veterans remembered this opponent.
“We have a pretty stingy defense with a lot of guys with experience. This one was personal for a lot of guys on that defense when we played sophomore year,” Norris said.
In 2018, the Lions ended the Hawks’ season, 24-7, in a second-round playoff game. It was Norris’ first year as coach.
Norris was impressed with his team, especially given the nature of this opponent. The Lions made it to the Division 3 state semifinal last season.
“They’re New Berlin Eisenhower. They’re a very traditional strong team in Wisconsin at Division 3 level. Any year they could make a run to state. It’s a very good program, coached extremely well,” he said.
Lions’ quarterback R.J. Connell was 9-for-26 for 59 yards and two interceptions.
Grafton plays at Pewaukee on Friday at 7 p.m. Pewaukee beat Wauwatosa East, 47-6, last Friday.