Grafton received the opening kickoff. The Black Hawks drove steadily down the field via a mix of running plays, though Bay’s Matt Bernstein dropped the Grafton for a loss on a QB keeper to the outside. After Matt also successfully defended a deep pass on 4th down intended for much taller receiver, Bay took over on downs about its own 26 yard line.
When the stout Grafton defense forced a punt, the Grafton deep back muffed Connor Kimple’s punt, and Zach Casey recovered, giving the Bay offense new life at midfield.
On 3rd and short, Kimple called his own number on a quarterback draw, and raced more than 40 yards for a Bay touchdown. Kimple kicked the two-point conversion. Bay 8-0.
Grafton returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 40. Sticking to the run, the home team punched in a touchdown and kicked the two-point conversion. Tied, 8-8.
Van Bassindale returned the kickoff past the Bay 40. On the first play from scrimmage, Bassindale raced more than 55 yards for a touchdown. Kimple kicked the 2-point conversion. Bay 16-8.
On the following possession, Grafton scored on an option run, with the QB pitching to the trailing back right before the QB was hit. Grafton failed on the two-point kick attempt. Bay 16-14.
With less than a minute left in the first half, Grafton ripped off a run of more than 50 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion kick was good. Grafton 22, Bay 16.
After a Bay turnover gave Grafton the ball near midfield with seconds left, the Orange might have been content to run out the clock. Instead, the Grafton QB overthrew a swing pass to his left. Bay linebacker Alec Lindfors read the play, jumped the route and took the interception back for a touchdown, his third pick-six of the season. Kimple kicked the two-point conversion. Bay 24, Grafton 22 at halftime.
In the third quarter, utilizing some short passes and aided by a face-mask penalty against Bay, Grafton moved to 1st and goal, before scoring on a short touchdown run. The conversion kick attempt failed. Grafton 28, Bay 24.
After an exchange of punts, Bay began the 4th quarter deep in its own territory. A swing pass to Zach Casey gained Bay a first down at its own 45, but a later 4th down fell incomplete, giving the ball back to Grafton with a little more than 3 minutes left. Grafton gained enough yardage to run out the clock and secure a 28-24 victory.
