Season’s first loss is a heartbreaker for Port

An injured starting quarterback and a host of other players nicked up, penalties and a physical Kewaskum High School team were one-point too much for Port Washington to overcome last Friday on the road.

The Pirates were dealt their first loss of the season, 27-26, in overtime. Kewaskum went to 4-0.

It spoiled a multifaceted effort by speedy Port senior Ben Fritsch, who stopped and started his way to 50 yards rushing and a score on five carries, returned a punt an electrifying 61 yards for a touchdown and had another called back due to a penalty.

“I really just had to follow my blocks and give it my all. Just read my blocks and go where it took me,” Fritsch said of his returns.

In the extra period, Port got the ball first on Kewaskum’s 25-yard line. Fritsch, who was filling in for injured Nate Uselding at quarterback, was sacked for a three-yard loss, then found Josh Arnold for a 10-yard gain. Fritsch ran for seven yards, Lleyton Allen ran for six and Fritsch finished the final five with a tough push inside to reach the end zone.

Kicker Keaton Knous’ extra point attempt sailed just wide, and Port had a 26-20 lead.

Kewaskum’s turn at the 25 included four running plays, the final of which Hunter Loser scored from two yards out.

Carter Curtain knocked the extra point down the middle, and the Indians and their fans went nuts.

“We learn and we grow from it and we’ve got to get better. That’s the only thing we can do,” Port coach John Bunyan said.

“They can’t hang their heads and feel sorry for themselves. We want to be in competitive football games, and we want to learn from that stuff. That just makes you better.”

Port scored first on a six-yard pass from Uselding to Matt Esselmann. Uselding’s run for the two-point conversion was stopped inches short.

The Indians tied the game on the first play of the second quarter on a three-yard run by Dillan Steger, capping a 76-yard drive. Sam Pasten blocked the extra point.

After a Uselding pass was tipped and intercepted, Esselmann returned the favor, jumping in front of a receiver and picking off a pass inside the five-yard line on a halfback option.

Port followed with an eight-minute, 97-yard scoring drive that included three third-down conversions.

On the drive’s second-last play, Uselding threw a six-yard pass to Esselmann and went down untouched. He got up, tried to walk and hopped off the field.

Sophomore Josh Arnold came in on third and four and lofted a 14-yard pass to the right corner of the end zone, inches over the outstretched hands of an Indian and into the paws of senior tight end Ryan Burmesch.

“Coach came up to me, he said you should have Ryan — he’s the tallest person — I’ll just throw it up,” Arnold said.

“Josh threw a good throw. Just landed right in my arms,” Burmesch said.

The two-point try failed, and Port was up, 12-6, at halftime.

Kewaskum went up, 13-12, late in the third quarter on a Steger three-yard run. Port tried to answer but Fritsch, now playing quarterback, got picked off. Port forced a punt, and Kewaskum was called for illegal motion.

Bunyan made the Indians rekick, and Fritsch worked his magic, running from the middle of the field to the left side, then breaking right and kicking it into high gear to reach the end zone. He then hit Esselmann on a roll-out pass for the conversion, and Port was up, 20-13.

Port’s defense stopped Kewaskum short of midfield on the ensuing possession, but the Pirates couldn’t run out the clock and punted.

With just less than four minutes left, Kewaskum drove 64 yards. On third and 12 from Port’s 16-yard line, Ryan Cook hit Owen Parish for a touchdown.

An official had thrown a flag as soon as the play started, but after a conference with the other officials it was decided there was no penalty.

The extra point tied the game with a minute to play.

Port worked to get in scoring position, but a Fritsch Hail Mary on the last play of regulation was intercepted short of the end zone, setting up overtime.

“We’ve just got to regroup, combine as one team and go out and play our next game and focus,” Fritsch said.

“We’ve just got to work hard in practice. We’ve just got to keep our heads up,” Arnold said.

Port had eight penalties for 70 yards and Kewaskum had 12 for 83 yards.

“We’re a good team. We’re a very special team. It’s disappointing. We’ve got to clean some things up,” Bunyan said.

Uselding went 10-for-15 passing for 100 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Allen ran 14 times for 69 yards. Esselmann caught five passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

For Kewaskum, Cook went 9-for-17 for 187 yards and a score. Steger ran 15 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Donovan Zillmer caught three passes for 75 yards, and Carson Rolf caught three balls for 69 yards.

Bunyan said Uselding, a three-year starter, has a knee injury he hopes is mild.

“Obviously, losing Nate is huge to our offense. He’s a special quarterback,” he said.

Fritsch played quarterback in the second half. He and Arnold don’t have Uselding’s arm, but they have fast legs.

“They’re athletes. We had our wildcat package with Ben already,” Bunyan said.

Fritsch was a field general when he was younger.

“I felt comfortable enough to play it,” he said.

Port had several players sit out for multiple plays due to ailments, including Fritsch, but all returned to the game.

Port fell to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the East Central Conference and hosts Kettle Moraine Lutheran (1-1 EC, 2-2 overall) on Friday.