By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
MADISON – This one is going to sting for awhile.
Costly turnovers and penalties prevented the Frankin football team from its first-ever Division 1 state football title Friday night.
Arrowhead secured its second consecutive championship with a 45-24 victory, but the final score was far from indicative of how things really went down. While it’s hard to blame the referees for the loss, they didn’t exactly help the situation on a critical play in the third quarter.
After an Arrowhead touchdown made it 23-17, Franklin fell victim to a controversial call. Playing from deep inside his own territory, Franklin quarterback Sean McGuire’s pass sailed over his intended receiver and into the arms of Arrowhead’s Charlie Reuteman. Reuteman took it to the house for a 44-yard interception return, but the Fox Sports Wisconsin television replay showed otherwise.
The footage showed Reuteman fumbled at the 3-yard line, and the ball trickled into the end zone for a touchback. However, there is no instant replay in high school football, and the call stood. After a two-point conversion, Arrowhead led, 31-17, with a minute left in the third quarter. The tables had turned, and Franklin, which was only 10 yards away from taking a potential 24-17 lead, saw a 21-point swing essentially end its chances.
“It’s one of those game where it was awfully fun at 17-17,” said Franklin head coach Louis Brown. “But that’s what turnovers do. The interception return was tough. But what hurt the most was four or five personal foul penalties on us. These things kill momentum. We were reeling, and things started to snowball. We got a little tired.”
Franklin went three-and-out on its next possession, a drive hampered by a holding penalty (Franklin had nine penalties for 105 yards total), and the Warhawks put the finishing touch on the victory on their ensuing possession.
Arrowhead running back Cody Sellhausen took a simple handoff left, cut back, broke two arm tackles, and broke free down the left sideline for a 66-yard, game-clinching score. The 38-17 lead was too much to overcome for the Sabers, who became one-dimensional with the pass out of necessity.
McGuire, who brought his team back from an early 10-0 deficit to tie things up at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter, was emotional after the game, seeking solace from his parents and teammates in the difficult time.
“I’m blessed, very, very thankful,” he said while fighting back tears. “I’m so blessed for the opportunity to play these past four years. We never quit. We worked our tails off all year to get here. I wouldn’t trade this for the world. These guys are my brothers. We’re a family.”
McGuire’s tying touchdown run was epic and may be talked about for years. He scrambled left about 10 yards, ran back to his right, made a guy miss and ran another 10 yards diagonally before meeting three Arrowhead defenders at the 5-yard line. McGuire, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound powerful runner, bounced off the trio and carried another two guys into the end zone to make it 17-17.
McGuire said the legacy of this squad will live forever. He said it was a special group with a lot of leadership.
“The underclassmen will pick up where we left off,” he said. “I wanted to leave my mark for the great community of Franklin.”
Franklin finished the season 12-2 and advanced to its second state finals appearance. The Sabers won the Division 2 title in 2006.
McGuire set the Division 1 records for passing completions, attempts and yardage by converting on 21 of his 37 passes for 250 yards. Chad Walton, whose four-yard touchdown made it 10-10 in the second quarter, led the Sabers’ ground attack with 78 yards and two touchdowns.
Arrowhead’s Jake Miller set a Division 1 state finals record with 11 receptions, which resulted in 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ricky Finco added five receptions for 113 yards. Sophomore quarterback Johnny Duranso completed 18-of-29 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. He also contributed 55 yards rushing on 19 attempts. Ty Jager was the game’s leading rusher with 104 yards on seven carries.
Arrowhead’s hurry-up offense was too much to stop, and its defense caused fits for Franklin. By the second half, Franklin’s defense wore down and Arrowhead pounded the ball on the ground and killed the clock.
“Until the end, the kids fought the whole way,” Brown said. “I give Arrowhead a lot of credit.”
McGuire ended a stellar senior season with a first team all-state selection at quarterback. Brown isn’t surprised at all, and he said he is even a better person than player.
“He’s awfully special,” Brown said. “Everyone bases it on what they see on the field, well, I base it on what I see off the field. He’s that special. His leadership, he gets the kids together in the offseason and he does what’s right. You don’t see a kid like him very often.”
Brown will miss Franklin’s 27 seniors, stating in the post-game huddle that they will be “successful with whatever they do in life.”
“We have a ways to go to get to Arrowhead’s level,” Brown said. “I would’ve liked to battle to the end, but it didn’t work out that way.”
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