Muskego Runs Over Port Washington in Season Opener

had seven total possessions in the first half of Friday night’s opening high school football matchup against the Pirates, and they scored on all seven possessions

And things didn't get much better for the Pirates as they fell 55-19 to the Warriors.

Six different Muskego players scored rushing touchdowns in the first half. It began with senior fullback Brady Simkowski. The Warriors started with great field position at the Pirates' 33-yard line on the opening drive.

Simkowski and the Warriors offensive line bulldozed their way to the end zone on six plays, which saw Simkowski score the first of his two touchdowns on a 10-yard run up the middle. 

The Pirates then took over on the next possession and were forced to punt on fourth and 5 on their own 30-yard line. The punt was blocked and recovered by Warriors' Austin Wendlant and Muskego took over at the Pirates' 15-yard line.

It took two plays - a four-yard run from Simkowski and an 11-yard run from Jordan Gruettner - to put another touchdown on the board for Muskego.

Grimkowski ran in the two-point conversion and the score was 14-0 with 5:31 left in the first quarter.

The Pirates took over and were forced to punt on a three and out possession. The Warriors' special teams came up big again, as Peter Chaniotakis returned the punt 40 yards to put Muskego on the Pirates' 20-yard line.

The Warriors continued to pound the football and scored in two plays with Grimkowski’s second touchdown run, this time from 9 yards out with 3:15 left in the first quarter.

Grimkowski finished the night with 12 total carries for 59 yards and two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion.

The Warriors scored on their next four straight possessions in the first half, with Tommy Stark,  Roland Dunlap, quarterback Eric Pachowitz and David Kucharski all rushing for touchdowns.

The halftime score was 49-0.

The Pirates managed to get on the board and show some life in the second half. Port took advantage of a Warriors' turnover early in the third quarter. There was a botched exchange between the quarterback and center, and the Pirates took over at the Warriors' 23.

Three plays later, the Pirates hit paydirt for the first time as quarterback Taylor Davenport scored from one yard out to make the score 49-6.

The Pirates scored on their next possession as well on a 4-yard Roman Bailey run. However, the Warriors' special teams made another big play and blocked the extra point to keep the score 49-12.

The Warriors' special teams unit made the biggest play of the night on the following kickoff as Dunlap scored his second touchdown of the night on a 90-yard kickoff return, making the score 55-12 in the fourth quarter.

Muskego's special teams unit made a huge impact on the game. They blocked a punt and an extra point, returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and never allowed the Pirates to start past their own 40-yard line on punt and kickoff returns.

Muskego head coach Ken Krause gave all the credit for that to special teams coach Rob Domenosky.

“Coach Dom is a legend of the Warriors,” said Krause. “He’s been here 32 years and bleeds black and red. Last year we all coached special teams, but I delegated a bit more this year, and Dom takes a lot of pride. He has definitely raised the expectation and intensity up a notch.”

The Pirates managed to score another touchdown on a six-play, 61- yard drive that saw Davenport toss a 24-yard touchdown to Bailey in traffic. After the extra point, the score was 55-19.

Davenport finished 6-19 for 79 yards with one touchdown and one interception. 

“He recognizes pressure well,” said Port Washington head coach Tim Greisch. “He likes to run and knows he can make plays with his feet or his arm. He just has to work on his timing, which will get better as the season goes on.”

Greisch said the Pirates need to get better mentally, but with a lot of returning seniors on the squad, he doesn't think that will be a problem. 

“Times of adversity is when your best leaders step up,” said Greisch.

For the Warriors, even though they won by a large margin, Krause said there are things they need to work on as well.

“We are going to have to get a little better. We have to get in better shape. I saw guys sucking wind a little more than you like them to," he said. "We have a tough conference and we just have to stay hungry.”