Little details add up to big victory for Grafton

This probably wasn’t the best week to face Grafton High School’s football team.

Coming off a one-point loss in a game that got away from the Black Hawks at Cedarburg last week, Grafton was perturbed and ready to get its act together.

But it was no easy task. Their rival, Port Washington, was coming to town after beating perennial powerhouse Pewaukee in the season opener. This was the fifth meeting between Grafton and Port since 2022, with Port winning three of the last four contests and Grafton winning by one point last season in the playoffs.

This game turned out to be a reversal of last season’s week 2 contest that Port won, 35-7. The Black Hawks on Friday destroyed the Pirates, 45-6.

“We focused on controlling what we could control. We focused on ourselves, and in the end we were the ones who hit harder,” Grafton junior linebacker Tyler Heinle, who has an offer to play at Michigan State, said.

“School rivalry at home, there’s nothing better.”

“Coaches pushed us hard this week,” Grafton quarterback Brady Hilgart said. “We had a great week of practice, and that really showed.”

The Hawks scored on the game’s opening drive, returned an interception for a touchdown on Port’s first possession, then picked off another pass and drove for a score the next time the Pirates had the ball.

The Hawks were up, 19-0, barely eight minutes into the game.

Port couldn’t turn the tide. Grafton led, 38-0, at halftime.

Heinle, who led a ferocious defense with nine tackles, had the pick-six thanks in part to Max Glab’s pass rush. Port quarterback Cal Loose tried to get rid of the ball but Glab’s hit forced it straight up into the air. It fell into Heinle’s arms and he trotted 20 yards untouched for the score.

“I was completely in shock and I just knew to go to the end zone,” Heinle said, confirming that was “probably” the easiest touchdown he’ll ever score.

Defensive back Nick Schiller made a diving interception on a rollout pass the next possession.

“He likes to roll left,” Schiller said of Loose. “I jumped the out-route.”

The Hawks competed the 27-yard drive with Tommy Lutz’s second of four touchdowns on the night. He ran in for a six-yard score on Grafton’s first possession, then caught a short pass, burst for the end zone and dove to the right pylon.

Jayden Smith-Kaylor recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession, and the Hawks drove 49 yards for another score. Lutz sped and reached for the left pylon from 11 yards out.

After forcing a Port punt, Lutz closed a 37-yard drive with a 30-yard burst up the middle for a score.

With less than 40 seconds in the half, Hilgart found Tyler Van Sluys wide open for 30 yards down the left sideline on a similar route he scored on against Cedarburg last week.

The lopsided success came down to details, the Hawks said.

“We had a great week of practice doing all the little things right,” lineman James Nellis said.

“We had a really good week. We focused on the little things,” lineman Thomas Petersen said. “It was obviously a huge game for us and the city with the recent history with them, playing them four times in the past couple of years.”

Lutz ran 25 times for 147 yards and three scores and caught two balls for 17 yards and a score.

“Our defense did great. Our O-line executed perfectly,” he said.

Hilgart came off a rough outing with a better performance, completing 13 of 17 passes for 191 yards and two scores.

Tyler Deer caught four balls for 72 yards, including a 43-yard bomb down the middle on Grafton’s opening drive.

Glab, Petersen and Ian Cornelius each had a sack.

“It’s mostly just doing our job. This entire week we practiced so hard,” Glab said. “Everybody’s just doing a great job showing each other how much this game mattered, especially after that loss. We moved forward and took a huge step.”

The bounceback came from preparation, Grafton coach Jim Norris said.

“We left a lot on the field last Friday night (against Cedarburg). A lot of self-inflicted wounds that for us came down to detail and discipline — little things in critical situations. That’s what we focused on,” he said.

“The coolest thing is all guys held themselves and each other accountable. They wanted more. They all knew that’s not what we’re about and what we’re capable of.”

Port coach John Bunyan said early turnovers turned the tide.

“We went in there prepared and ready to go. We turned the ball over right away,” he said. “We’re down 20 and it just started to steamroll. Credit to them. They were very opportunistic. We’ll just try to focus on us and get better.”

Port got going in the second half, starting with an 80-yard drive that ended in a 13-yard touchdown pass on a screen play from Loose to Sam Pasten.

“We got a lot in our heads and worked up. I told them let’s just relax and play football and have fun. We’re definitely a team that can compete with Grafton. I’m proud of how we responded in the second half.”

Loose went 8-for-14 passing for 63 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions before getting the wind knocked out of him and being taken out. Kade Kintop went 2-for-4 for 29 yards.

Pasten ran seven times for 27 yards. Grafton held Port to 40 yards on the ground.

Josh Arnold, the East Central Wisconsin Receiver of the Year last season, had four catches for 52 yards.

Port starts ECC play with crossover game at a Badger Small Conference foe, Lakeside Lutheran (1-1), in Lake Mills on Friday.

Grafton starts Woodland Conference play by hosting Whitnall (2-0) on Military and First Responders Night. Military members and first responders receive free admission and a backpack of free items. A photo booth will be available, and military personnel and first responders will be honored at halftime.

“It feels amazing. There’s nothing better. It brings our spirit back,” Van Sluys said of the Port win. “We’re ready to roll next week.”