Neenah — West De Pere’s season has been defined by grit, belief, and late-game heart. All of it showed again Friday night at Neenah High School, where the Phantoms erased a 14-point second-half deficit to stun Homestead 35-34 and punch their ticket to the WIAA Division 2 state championship game.
“You never give up, you never know when someone’s going to make a play,” head coach Chris Greisen said. “Our guys played with some grit tonight… I’m really proud.”
From the start, West De Pere found themselves climbing uphill. The Phantoms punted on their opening drive before Homestead struck first with 1:30 left in the opening quarter. Early in the second, junior Braylon Stegall broke free for West De Pere’s first score, but Homestead answered twice more, including a touchdown with seven seconds remaining in the half. A critical stop on the two-point try kept the Phantoms within 7 going into halftime.
The deficit grew to 28-14 in the third, but West De Pere refused to fold. Junior wideout Landon Kibbe pulled in a touchdown with 4:32 left in the quarter, and moments later, junior running back Kainan Strong hauled in a huge 28-yard grab on 3rd-and-11 to get the Phantoms into the red zone. Senior Ryan Lutz finished the drive with a 12-yard run, tying the game at 28-28 with 1:34 left in the third.
Homestead responded to regain the lead early in the fourth, but a blocked extra point by West De Pere kept the margin at six — a play that proved to be enormous.
Still down 34-28 with time slipping away, the Phantoms mounted one final drive. On 4th-and-7, quarterback Patrick Greisen delivered the throw of the night, getting hit and dragged down as he released a perfect throw to senior receiver Judeah Kniskern to keep the season alive. Moments later, West De Pere faced 4th-and-goal with the season on the line. The sequence began with a high snap that Greisen barely secured, and the next two runs were both stuffed. But on fourth down, with the crowd on its feet, Lutz powered through the line for the touchdown. The extra point gave West De Pere its first lead of the half, 35-34.
The defense sealed it in the final moments, bottling up Homestead’s last chance drive as the sideline and stands erupted.
Afterward, senior receiver Kniskern said the comeback was a reflection of who they are. “Everyone was playing for each other,” Kniskern said. “We never give up. No matter what happens — drop pass, missed tackle — we’re always staying together and playing for each other."
Greisen later added how much the moment meant to the program.“Well, it's great for our school, our community, all the people that support us, the parents, all the fans. It's just incredible.”
The Phantoms will face familiar Green Bay opponent Notre Dame Academy at Camp Randall with a state title on the line.
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