Port’s comeback makes homecoming happy

This high school football homecoming game nearly had it all.

A 14-point comeback, a trick play for a touchdown, a failed fake punt, a tipped pass for a touchdown at the end of the first half and a Hail Mary for a score near the end of the game — all while a share of the Glacier Trails Conference title was on the line.

Port Washington won’t forget Friday’s 42-34 win on senior night over visiting Plymouth.

“It’s amazing. I’ve dreamed about it since freshman year. I knew we had a special team when we went 8-1, and I’ve dreamed about it ever since,” senior Joe Rico said.

“I still can’t believe it. It’s really surreal,” senior ThiLar Goodman said. “I remember sitting in the stands when my brother (Ramario) got the conference championship, I’m going to do that. So I’m here, my brother’s in the stands today. It’s just amazing, especially doing it with such a great group of guys.”

A couple of seniors came up with the game-saving plays late to seal this one.

With two minutes to play and Port leading 35-27, Kade Kintop picked off a pass and juked, weaved and sped his way 45 yards for a touchdown.

Plymouth then scored on a fourth-down prayer. Eyob Sullivan tried to knock down a deep pass that Rico was trying to get control of as he fell to the ground, and the ball bounced up to Plymouth’s Cole Kuhn, who ran to the end zone and reached the ball over for a score with 21 seconds left.

Senior Jackson Bergin fell on the onside kick and protected the ball like it was a shiny new cell phone without a case, and Port had the win.

“Oh my God, it feels just absolutely amazing. Just the adversity that we went through. Our motto is control the chaos, and I feel like we handled that really well,” Austin Knapp said.

The Panthers came out of the gates storming against Port’s air-raid offense, forcing the state’s leading passer, Jack Bunyan, into two interceptions. A short screen pass was returned for a touchdown, and Bunyan was hit as he threw a fluttering ball that was picked.

It was 14-0 late in the first quarter.

Plymouth tried to keep a drive alive from its 38-yard line with a fake punt, but a pass that would have been short of the first down fell incomplete.

On the next play, Bunyan hit a speeding junior Aedyn Brownmiller down the middle for a touchdown. Port was back in the game and had momentum.

After forcing a three-and-out, it was Bunyan to Brownmiller again, this time for 47 yards down the right sideline. The pass zinged into Brownmiller’s hands in tight coverage.

Plymouth came back with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an Augie Eigenberger nine-yard scoring run.

Port drove deep into Panthers’ territory with seconds to go in the half. On second and 10 from the 12-yard line, Bunyan threw to Kintop on a crossing route in the end zone. The ball bounced off his hands, then off a Panther and into the waiting arms of Kiya Sullivan, who was standing in the right place at the right time with one second left.

“Jack said that was intended for me,” Kintop said. “It just worked out. That’s football for you.”

Port took its first lead on Brownmiller’s third score from 16 yards out on Port’s first drive of the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, cornerback Jarek Roman, filling in for Zeke Rico, made a leaping interception on a bomb.

Port then drove 73 yards for a score. Kintop took the snap and  pitched back to Bunyan, who threw a screen pass back to Kintop with linemen out front. Kintop made his way 26 yards through traffic for a touchdown.

“We faced adversity all year long. Going down 14-0, it was a little shaky, but this offense can score 14 points in five minutes. You’re never really out of the game with this team,” Kintop said.

Port was up, 35-21, late in the third quarter.

Plymouth answered with a scoring drive, but Kintop picked off the two-point attempt, and a couple of possessions later made the big pick six.

“Most of our seniors were really emotional going into the game,” Brownmiller said. “To get them this dub (win), especially after being down, that means a lot.”

It was the third time in the last four weeks Port fell behind in the first half. 

Players cited halftime adjustments and motivational speeches by coach Bunyan.

“We didn’t have the greatest start, but the Port Pirates, we come back,” lineman Gio Jacque said. “It’s what we do, and that’s how our whole season has been going.”

Coach John Bunyan has a theory on the slow starts.

“Offensively, we don’t know what teams are going to give us. They’re not playing the same thing that’s on film. It takes a little time for us to get adjusted,” he said. “Credit to them. That’s probably the best team that’s rushed us all year. It forced us to throw the ball a little early.”

But Port has shown that its offense can’t be kept down for an entire game.

Jack Bunyan went 24-for-44 passing for 348 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Brownmiller caught six balls for 160 yards and three scores. Kintop caught four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, and Kiya Sullivan had four catches for 26 yards and a score.

Goodman and Knapp each made 12 tackles, and LeRoy Pinkston had nine. Sullivan and Goodman each had two sacks.

Coach Bunyan said the team is unique beyond the stats.

“Our theme this week was fellowship. How much we care about each other and why we play for each other and not individually,” he said. “That’s the piece I think people don’t understand. Yeah, we score a lot of points, but they really are a tight group, and it’s a really special season.”

Port, 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the GTC, plays at winless West Bend East in the regular season finale on Friday, Oct. 16.

GTC standings are: Port, 6-0; West Bend West, 5-1; Plymouth and Grafton, 4-2; Kewaskum and Nicolet, 2-4; Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 1-5; and West Bend East, 0-6.