Bay Port scores 49 unanswered points in rout of Neenah

SUAMICO – After a slow start, the Bay Port football team rebounded in dominating fashion against Neenah in a WIAA Division 1 Level 2 game on Oct. 30. 

Spotting the Rockets with a 7-0 lead, the Pirates (10-1) ripped off seven consecutive touchdowns in a 49-7 victory at Bay Port High School. 

Junior running back Jackson Smith rushed for three first-half TDs and added another scoring reception in the second half to help propel Bay Port, which racked up 420 yards of total offense. 

With the win, the Pirates will host No. 2 seed Waunakee in a Level 3 game on Friday, Nov. 6. 

“I’m glad I get another week with these young men,” Bay Port Coach Steven Jorgensen said. “I have a ton of respect for Neenah – they were [Fox Valley Association] Conference champs and are a well-coached team. The week leading up to the game, we had our best practices of the year. We practiced at a high level and had a really good game plan.” 

After the Rockets (7-4) took the opening kickoff and methodically marched down the field to grab a 7-0 lead, the Pirates answered right back on a 10-yard TD pass from Bray Babich to Ethan Orlando near the end of the first quarter. 

A Rex Helms interception gave Bay Port the ball back, and that’s when Smith went to work. 

Smith rushed for three scores in the second quarter, all from two yards out.

A first-quarter injury to Neenah quarterback Ashton VanBeek – who scored the Rockets’ first TD – proved costly, as the star QB didn’t return. 

Jackson Otradovec hauled in a 70-yard TD pass from Babich right before halftime to push the lead to 35-7. 

Babich pitched a 10-yard TD pass to Smith in the third quarter, which initiated a running clock with 4:51 showing on the clock. 

Sophomore Mason Schmiedel closed the scoring for Bay Port late in the game when he rushed for a three-yard score.

Smith rushed 16 times for 96 yards, while Babich was 4-of-7 passing for 110 yards and three TD passes. 

In addition, Bay Port quarterback Braydon Maney completed all seven of his passes for 89 yards. 

Eight different Pirates hauled in passes on the night. 

The Bay Port defense held Neenah to 174 yards, with only 67 of those coming after VanBeek left the game. 

Sports Editor’s Note: To watch video interviews from Jorgensen and Smith, head to The Press Times’ Facebook page.