Lippe is the class of the NSC

North Shore Conference opponents couldn’t stop Port Washington High School senior Jacob Lippe anywhere on the football field this season, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Lippe was regularly double teamed as a wide receiver, but he still caught 34 passes for 535 yards and seven touchdowns.

They keyed on him every time he had the ball, but he still managed 447 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 62 carries.

When he wasn’t running it, he completed four of six passes for 104 yards and three scores or served as a decoy.

Defensively, teams had to know where Lippe was at all times. He played free safety and sometimes moved to cornerback to cover other teams’ best receivers. He tied for the team lead with 71 tackles and had a fumble recovery.

On special teams, Lippe ruined opponents’ kickoffs and punts. Teams tried to angle kicks away from the deadly return threat, and when the ball went out of bounds Coach John Bunyan made them kick again.

Lippe had 14 kick returns for 571 yards, a 37.2 average per return. He returned three punts for 91 yards and one touchdown.

He was a unanimous selection as a wide receiver, defensive back and utility player — the former two for the third straight season — and was named the conference’s Player of the Year.

He was named All-Region as a wide receiver and is up for all-state honors.

“He had a tremendous year for us,” Bunyan said.

“He was double teamed every single game and still had tremendous plays. He had less catches but more explosive plays.”

At safety, Bunyan said Lippe came downhill to make plays and break up passes.

On special teams, the coach was thankful Lippe was wearing green and white.

“I wouldn’t kick it to him,” he said.

“They were definitely trying to avoid kicking him the ball at all costs.”

As a team captain, Lippe was a vocal leader and led by example, and paid close attention during film study.

Next year, Lippe plans to play wide receiver at powerhouse North Dakota State, winners of six of the last seven division 1 subdivision championships.

“By far and away, he’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached,” Bunyan said.

The Pirates earned several other all-conference selections.

Senior Deron Spicer made the first team at running back. He had 940 yards on 137 carries and 12 touchdowns in the NSC for an average of nearly seven yards per run and 117.5 per game.

“That’s a tremendous year, and we mixed it quite a bit with the pass,” Bunyan said. “He’s a very explosive and impactful kid.”

Spicer made the second team at inside linebacker. He was third on the team in tackles with 50, including four for loss. He had a sack, fumble recovery and interception.

Senior Devon Edwards made the second team as tight end and outside linebacker.

He caught 14 balls for 218 yards and four scores, and made 47 tackles, including two for loss, had a sack and interception.

“He blocked some bigger guys for us from the tight end and from fullback positions. He’s a really good athlete,” Bunyan said.

On defense, Edwards could drop into coverage and play the run.

Junior Mitchell Niemeyer, despite having his season cut short three conference games due to a knee injury, made the second team at wide receiver. He caught nine balls for 132 yards and two scores and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

“Mitchell had a really good year catching the ball. With double coverage on Jake, we were definitely able to go to Mitchell,” Bunyan said.

Senior quarterback Adam Baierl, despite missing four games due to injury, made the second team for the second straight season.

He completed 37 of 79 passes for 529 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions, and he ran 74 times for 257 yards and four scores.

Baierl got hurt in the second game of the year and wasn’t 100% when he returned, but he still played well.

“He’s a great leader and provided a steadying calm, a kid that led by example for sure,” Bunyan said.

Senior Ray Bensen made second team at offensive line. The three-year starter played guard, tackle, defensive line, end and outside linebacker in his career.

“He’s a total team player who kept working, kept getting better,” Bunyan said.

Senior Tristan Griswold made second team as a defensive lineman. He had 50 tackles, including two for loss, a sack and a fumble return for a touchdown.

“Tristan had a good year. He’s a very explosive kid,” Bunyan said.

Zach Sharpe made second team at defensive back. The cornerback had 45 tackles and often covered the other team’s best receiver.

“He’s really good and athletic,” Bunyan said.

Twelve Grafton players earn honors

Senior Brady Ward starred at quarterback and defensive back for the Black Hawks, did some punting and earned honorable mention three times.

Ward split time at quarterback with junior Zach Weir and still managed to complete 32 of 64 passes in the NSC for 636 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. He ran for 112 yards and one score.

Coach Jim Norris had Ward focus just on defense at times to strengthen that side of the ball. In his first season at corner, he made 35 tackles, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass.

“When you have someone like Zach Weir behind him — who needed to play at times — Brady really embraced it. When Brady was on the field, he made plays. I’m proud of the way he handled the situation and his leadership role,” Norris said.

Ward, he said, would be an outstanding cornerback if he decides to play in college.

One of both quarterbacks’ favorite targets was sophomore receiver Bryson Clague, who made the second team. He made 20 catches for 480 yards and threetouchdowns, including a highlight-reel grab with his arms around a defensive back and a few more standout snags.

“He was a big-time player. Down the stretch teams had to have a game plan for him. It’s great to see a receiver command that respect as a sophomore,” Norris said.

Up front, sophomore J.P. Benzschawel made the second team as an offensive lineman. The left tackle is near and dear to Norris’ heart, since that was his position in college.

“J.P. is doing an excellent job, continuing to learn the position and how to be a dominant offensive lineman,” Norris said.

Junior defensive end Aaron Weisflog made the NSC second team. He had 31 tackles, including four for loss, and two sacks and was named the Hawks’ most improved player.

“That really defines who he is — someone who has dedicated himself to the game, changed his body, slimmed out and gotten very strong,” Norris said. “He listens to coaches and applies it right away.”

Junior defensive lineman Max Medvedev made the second team with 34 tackles, including three for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He was named the Hawks’ scout team player of the year.

“He was, for lack of better terms, annoying,” Norris said. “He holds the A gaps well. He’s not the biggest defensive tackle, but he’s a wrestler, into MMA fighting and knows leverage and body position well.”

Junior running back Joey Giorgi earned honorable mention. He had 734 yards and 10 touchdowns on 96 carries in the NSC, averaging 7.6 yards per rush. He was banged up early in the season but came on strong late.

“The best way to describe him is when he was on the field he changed our offense. When he was off the field, we had to find different ways to be productive,” Norris said. “He has a very special way of running the football.”

Giorgi’s fellow back, senior Caden Knauer, earned honorable mention as well, overcoming a broken foot in the first week of the season. He had 357 yards and four scores on 62 carries, including a career-high 179 yards against Port in the season finale win that clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 1997.

“He was the catalyst for getting to the playoffs. Without him, it would have been a really tough position to get back into the playoffs,” Norris said.

Senior Hawk Heffner earned honorable mention at outside linebacker. He tied for the state lead with three touchdowns — two on fumble recoveries and one on an interception — had 53 tackles, including eight for loss, and three picks. He was chosen as the Hawks’ most valuable player.

“His stats were just ridiculous. Honorable mention is not the accolade in my opinion he should have gotten,” Norris said.

After not playing much as a junior, Heffner hit the weight room in the offseason, had a breakout senior year and is considering playing in college.

“He’s absolutely the definition of what I’m trying to do in Grafton,” Norris said.

Sophomore Kenny Likins earned honorable mention at inside linebacker. He had 53 tackles, including two for loss. Beyond that, Norris said Likins and defensive coordinator Mike Welden have an “uncanny relationship. They can just look at each other with a hand signal and apply it to the entire defense. He understands our scheme and defense like the back of his hand.”

Senior Kyle Proefrock earned honorable mention for outside linebacker and was chosen as the Hawks’ defensive MVP. He had 42 tackles, including nine for loss and a sack and missed the first week due to injury.

“He’s a leader, a game changer,” Norris said. “We got him back in Week 2 and our defense just changed completely.”

Senior Ben Kell earned honorable mention on the offensive line. The three-year starter played right guard and right tackle before being moved to left guard this year.

“He’s just a great kid all around. You ask him to do something he does it. He’s a learner and loves football. Nothing gets him down,” Norris said.

Junior tight end Caleb Buback earned honorable mention for his 18 catches for 199 yards and a team-high five scores. He and Weir were throwing and catching footballs on Monday afternoon.

“He’s the epitome of what a tight end should be,” Norris said.