Plummer continues to lead for Bay Port
Jake Plummer knew something was wrong as soon he hit the turf.
The Bay Port senior quarterback felt excruciating pain emanating from his right shoulder, but decided to stay in the game and try to tough it out.
Plummer ran one more play before exiting the game because he was no longer in a position to help his team out on the field the way he wanted to.
“It was hard, knowing it was my senior year and I was most likely out for the season,” Plummer said about sustaining the injury two plays into the regular-season finale against Green Bay Preble.
The Bay Port football team has been playing for Plummer ever since and will continue to do so as it faces the monumental challenge of trying to knock off Kimberly Friday night in a WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal game.
“They’re a great team,” Plummer said of Kimberly, who has won five straight state championships. “It’s going to be a very physical football game, and we’re just looking forward to the opportunity.”
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Plummer was looking forward to the chance to lead Bay Port into the postseason after winning a third straight Fox River Classic Conference title, but sustaining a Grade 3 separation to his AC joint in his right shoulder altered those plans.
While he is unable to participate on the field, Plummer is maintaining his role as a leader on the team by doing whatever he can to help the offense and junior quarterback Andrew Thomas prepare.
“I’m helping out Andrew whenever he needs it and helping out the backup quarterbacks with the plays and the formations that we have,” Plummer said.
Plummer completed 73 of 93 passes for 1,086 yards and 12 touchdowns this year to earn second-team all-FRCC honors.
Most of his completions went to fellow senior Cody Lindquist, who wore Plummer’s No. 2 jersey during the team’s 49-0 victory over De Pere in the opening round of the playoffs.
“For as good as a player as he is, he’s an even better friend,” Plummer said. “It was awesome for him to do it.”
Plummer has firsthand knowledge of just how awesome the Bay Port defense has been this year, having gone against them in practice each week. The unit has produced five shutouts this season and is allowing only 7.2 points per game.
“They’re all very physical and they love flying to the football to make plays,” Plummer said.
Plummer enjoys helping with special needs students at school and has done so since attending Bay View Middle School. He would like to pursue a career in the education field in the future.
As for his immediate future, Plummer is rehabbing to make a return for basketball.
But considering the diagnosis for recovery with his injury is 4-6 weeks, there is also the outside shot he could get at least a chance to suit up again for football if his team can find a way to advance to state for the first time.
“It has been in the back of my head a little bit, but I’m trying to take it one day at a time,” Plummer said
“I kind of expected us to be a really good football team this season. We have a lot of good seniors and a lot of good underclassmen. Ever since we’ve been working hard during training camp in the summer, we’ve just been looking forward to getting out on the football field and playing.”