Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Join the Buckle Up Phone Down movement! WisDOT challenges Wisconsin to put safety first by taking the two most important actions to prevent or survive a crash. Accept the Buckle Up Phone Down challenge. Use your seat belt every trip and put down the phone when driving. Take the Buckle Up Phone Down pledge!

Rice Lake used some surprise and a couple fortunate bounces to knock off Grafton 28-20 to capture the program's third WIAA football state title.

Rice Lake showed off its passing game early, as Jakob Kunz hit Connor Durand for a 59-yard touchdown off of play action on the team's opening drive, as Grafton loaded up to stop the Warriors' flexbone offense.

On Grafton's ensuing drive, a Brady Hilgart pass across the middle was bobbled by the Black Hawks receiver, who then kicked the ball into the air, and it was picked off by Rice Lake senior linebacker Easton Stone, the WFCA Small School Defensive Player of the Year.

Grafton avoided a shaky start by picking off a Rice Lake pass a short time later, and the Black Hawks got the run game going behind Tommy Lutz. They would march 61 yards in 11 plays, with Brady Hilgart sneaking in from the one-yard line on the first play of the second quarter.

Rice Lake answered with a long drive of its own, going 58 yards in 10 plays, capped by a Connor Durand four-yard run, putting Rice Lake ahead 14-7. Grafton would convert another lengthy drive for a touchdown, tying the score at 14 at halftime.

Easton Stone went in for a short touchdown in the third quarter as the Warriors paid off an 10-play, 84-yard drive. Grafton would tie things up on their next drive, which consumed 8:26 and 65 yards in 18 plays. A potential go-ahead kick failed, however, leading the game tied at 20.

On Rice Lake's next drive, the Warriors got a couple bounces that went their way. Lucas Peters ran for 13 yards but fumbled at the end of the play with multiple Grafton defenders around him. However, he was able to corral it and keep Rice Lake in possession of the ball. Two plays later, Kunz lofted a pass in the flat that tipped off a Rice Lake receiver's hands and into Connor Durand's, who went for a big 17 gain. Easton Stone ran in from five yards out a few plays later to help put Rice Lake up 28-20.

Grafton drove near midfield but turned it over on downs when Hilgart was sacked by Will Johnson. Rice Lake took over with 1:51 left in the game, leading by eight. Grafton had three timeouts, which it used to force Rice Lake into a fourth and three with 1:34 remaining.

Rice Lake's Jakob Kunz, the team's quarterback and punter, lined up in punt formation and rolled out for the rugby-style kick. However, with a wall of blockers in front of him, he kept it and picked up the first down, icing things for the Warriors.

Rice Lake ran for 187 yards, spread between five different runners, led by 72 from Connor Durand. Durand also caught two passes for 76 yards and a score. Jakob Kunz threw for 118 yards with another 22 on the ground.

Tommy Lutz had a nice game for Grafton, rushing 30 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Brady Hilgart threw for 113 yards for the Black Hawks.

Grafton takes home silver ball in its first state finals appearance since 1984.

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.