Via Jimmie Kaska - Civic Media
MADISON, Wis. - A tense, low-scoring game went back and forth in the final minutes, and it was Grafton emerging as the Division 3 state champions.
The Black Hawks got a 35-yard field goal to connect with six seconds remaining in a 17-15 win over Reedsburg, only moments after the Beavers scored and converted a 2-point conversion with 1:39 left in the quarter to go up 15-14.
Going in, both teams were expected to feature their outstanding ground games, and that is what transpired as all four touchdowns scored between the teams in the game were via the rush.
A 74-yard pass play by Grafton on the game’s first play from scrimmage was called back due to a penalty on an ineligible receiver downfield. Despite the penalty, the Black Hawks were able to go on an 81-yard scoring march, which included a 4th-down conversion and six first downs, in 13 plays, capped off by a 6-yard touchdown run by Jack Nelson to take a 7-0 lead with 5:44 to go in the first quarter.
After forcing a 3-and-out, Grafton took the ball again down the field to the red zone. However, on this drive, Ian McClure intercepted a Nicholas Schiller pass in the end zone, giving the Beavers the ball back on their own 20 after the touchback.
That turnover set up Reedsburg with the game’s longest play, an 80-yard touchdown burst by all-state running back Will Mikonowicz to tie the game at 7 with 1:33 left in the opening quarter.
The teams traded 3-and-out possessions, with Grafton taking over early in the 2nd quarter on its own 16 after a 55-yard punt by Mikonowicz. A snap over the head of Grafton punter Reed Schaefer rolled around close to the goal line, but Schaefer was able to get the kick away to just past midfield.
Taking over at its own 45 with 7:39 to go in the 2nd quarter, Reedsburg drove into Grafton territory, but pressure on a 4th-down conversion attempt resulted in an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
Another 3-and-out by Grafton forced a punt, with the Beavers taking over on their own 24 with 92 seconds until halftime. Reedsburg drove down close enough to try a deep pass as the first half expired, but the attempt was picked off by Schiller to end the half with the game tied at 7.
Grafton out-gained Reedsburg 193 to 146 and ran 11 more plays in the first half.
Reedsburg started the second half on offense, moving the ball past midfield before a holding call stalled the drive initially. On a 4th down play, the Beavers called a fake punt and ran for an apparent first down, but that was also called back for holding. The penalties were the first of the game for Reedsburg.
After the punt, Grafton took over on its own 9-yard line. The Black Hawks put together a 13-play, 91-yard drive that took up 4 minutes and 13 seconds to go ahead 14-7 with 2:47 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Jack Nelson scored his second touchdown of the game on an 8-yard run and accounted for 46 of the yards on the scoring drive. A trio of pass completions to Tyler Deer for 37 yards also helped move the ball down the field.
Reedsburg’s ensuing drive spanned the end of the 3rd quarter and start of the 4th quarter, in which Mikonowicz topped 200 yards rushing for the game.
Grafton took over after an early 4th-quarter punt on its own 30 yard line. After a big run on its first play of the drive, the Black Hawks had another big gain from midfield, but a fumble forced by Gavin Budnik and recovered by the Beavers stopped the drive.
Reedsburg went 3-and-out and punted back to Grafton as Mikonowicz booted his second 55-yard punt in the game, this one going out at the 3-yard line. A few plays later, Mikonowicz picked off a Grafton pass to set the Beavers up on a short field with 4:47 to go in regulation.
The third Grafton turnover of the game resulted in more Reedsburg points, as the Beavers drove 47 yards in just over three minutes, with Mikonowicz piling up most of the yards on the drive. He capped it off with his second rushing touchdown of the game going up the middle to pull Reedsburg within one point. On the conversion, the Beavers elected to go for two points, and Mikonowicz carried it around the left side to give Reedsburg its first lead of the game, 15-14, with 1:39 to go in the 4th quarter.
After a squib kick, Grafton took over on its own 33-yard line. The Black Hawks converted a pair of 4th-down drives to move the ball down the field close enough for a 35-yard field goal attempt. Kicking from the right hash mark into the south end zone, out of the hold of Schiller, Graysen Bollech snuck it just inside of the right upright to put Grafton ahead 17-15 with six seconds to go in the game.
On the final play of the game, Reedsburg attempted multiple laterals on the kick return to try and get down the field for a score, but Grafton made the stop to finish off its first state title since back-to-back championships in 1981 and 1982. For Reedsburg, the Beavers finished as runner-up for the second time in its third title game appearance.
Grafton’s Jack Nelson ran for 167 yards and a pair of scores on 30 carries while Tyler Deer caught seven passes for 129 yards to lead the way for the Black Hawks offense, which ended up with 393 total yards. Reedsburg’s Will Mikonowicz had a D3-record 255 yards rushing on 38 carries and two scores, as well as a 2-point conversion, in addition to a pair of pass break-ups and an interception on defense and 235 punt yards, with four of his five punts downed inside the 20. He accounted for all but 17 of the Beavers’ 272 yards on offense.
Grafton finishes the season undefeated at 14-0. Reedsburg ends its campaign at 10-4.