By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
For all those traditionalists who say football is a team sport, they must not have seen Mukwonago’s Dominic Cizauskas.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound linebacker/running back is pretty much Superman on a football field.
The area has known all season, but the state is starting to see why the University of Wisconsin snagged this prized recruit two months before the season even started.
Mukwonago has ran roughshod on the competition this postseason (3-0), and Cizauskas has been the biggest playmaker in impressive victories over previously undefeated Sun Prairie and Oconomowoc.
Cizauskas has six touchdowns in the last two wins, three in each, and one was a 90-yard pick-six. Another was a 68-yard touchdown run.
A track sprinter despite his enormity, Cizauskas has carried the run-happy Indians all the way to a Division 1 Level 4 playoff game Friday night against Franklin (11-1).
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Kettle Moraine High School.
Mukwonago (9-3) plays in the state’s best conference, the Classic Eight, and it lost by only four points to Catholic Memorial and one point to Waukesha West, a team still alive in Division 2.
Mukwonago was trounced, 24-3, by Arrowhead earlier in the season, but Cizauskas and the boys could get revenge if both Mukwonago and Arrowhead win this weekend and meet in Madison for the state title.
But first thing’s first.
Franklin is no pushover.
Though the Sabers come from the Southeast Conference, a weaker conference overall despite having large Division 1 schools, Franklin’s passing game is legit.
So legit, in fact, that quarterback Sean McGuire (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) already is committed to Division 1 Western Illinois.
McGuire has lit up defenses for 2,548 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His completion percentage of 64 is unheard of in high school football.
McGuire is an equal opportunity dime thrower, with Nick Plath (689 yards receiving), Austin Meyer (504) and Chad Walton (372).
But it’s Franklin’s balance on offense that is even more impressive. Walton has run for 1,004 yards and 19 touchdowns this season.
Franklin crushed Milwaukee Marquette, 41-13, last Friday, to get here.
Walton rushed for four touchdowns, and McGuire tossed 276 passing yards.
Mukwonago, on the other hand, wants to smack you in the mouth with hard-nosed blocking and running.
The Indians won a state championship in 2004 using the veer offense, and these Indians are similar.
They punished Oconomowoc last week in the trenches to the tune of 463 rushing yards and had a whopping zero, that’s right, zero passing yards.
Including Cizauskas, Mukwonago has four backs with more than 400 rushing yards, led by Aaron Nixon’s 1,064 and 15 touchdowns.
Colton Williams averages 10.1 yards per carry (666 yards, four TDs), and Jerrid Madden has 520 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Cizauskas is the power man on short yardage. He has 10 touchdowns but averages a stunning 9.3 yards per carry.
Nixon, the quarterback, also has thrown for 661 yards and seven touchdowns.
Mukwonago has lost a shootout this season and has been shut down by two elite defenses.
Franklin’s only loss came to a potent passing attack, Greendale.
Franklin’s defense is far from elite, but it has done enough to allow the offense to outscore opponents.
Mukwonago has been a buzz saw this postseason.
These squads are pretty close talent-wise, but the X-factor is Cizauskas. He’s the best player on the field, and throughout the season coaches have said he’s one of the best high school football players they’ve ever seen.
Expect Cizauskas to will his team to another victory.
PREDICTIONS
Last week: 3-2
Season: 53-22
Mukwonago 35, Franklin 28
Other predictions
Kimberly 33,
Waukesha West 18
Greendale 41, Xavier 20
Arrowhead 24, Hudson 20
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