By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
On Friday at 4 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Franklin faces its toughest test of the season, Arrowhead. The defending state champions have seven Wisconsin Badger recruits and a state pedigree that’s unmatched.
The two will battle for the coveted gold ball in the Division 1 state championship game. The game will be televised live on FSN Wisconsin.
Arrowhead has won five state titles, the third-most of any school.
The Warhawks dispatched Hudson, 38-14, Friday night to advance to their 11th title game overall.
Franklin won the Division 2 state title in its only other championship game appearance in 2006.
Arrowhead is widely recognized as one of the best athletic programs in the state. The Sabers feel honored to play against the best.
Franklin head coach Louis Brown channeled his inner Ric Flair when asked about the Warhawks.
“We’ve never got a chance to play Arrowhead,” Brown said. “We’re excited for the opportunity. If you want be the best, you have to beat the best.”
Franklin senior defensive lineman Chad Kanugh, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound powerhouse, can’t wait for the challenge.
“We just have more seniors and we want it more than anyone else,” he said. “They got their ring last year. We’re hungrier.”
Kanugh said the senior leadership isn’t solely on the football field. These guys are a team, 24-7, 365.
“Every Wednesday, the defense goes to Buffalo Wild Wings and the offense goes to Hideaway for wings,” Kanugh said. “On Thursdays, we have pasta night at the high school. Before the season, we had captains practice three times a week. The young guys eat that up and are getting good reps.”
This week, Kanugh said he hopes the team heals up from some minor injuries. Also, he said the pass defense must improve, because Arrowhead’s offense is just as balanced as Franklin’s.
Standout Franklin quarterback Sean McGuire, who has thrown for 2,720 yards and 22 touchdowns to only nine picks, said the seniors employ a leadership that instills confidence in the entire team.
“We have 11 leaders on offense and 11 on defense,” he said. “We have a lot of really good kids here, seniors or not, that buy into what the coaches are doing. When you have leadership like that, you’re composed the whole game. We had a couple mistakes tonight, but we had each other’s back. It’s a brotherhood that will last the rest of our lives.”
McGuire, who played arguably his best game of the season Friday, may have to play even better in the state championship. Arrowhead, just like Franklin, is on an 11-game win streak.
“It’s such a team effort, and it’s insane,” he said. “We’re looking to have a great week of practice and bring one home for Franklin.”
PREDICTION: The skinny
Yes, Arrowhead is the best program in the state. Yes, it plays in the toughest conference in the state. And yes, the Warhawks are the favorites to win Friday.
But Kanugh hit it on the head. These Sabers are hungry. They haven’t been to state in seven years, and they know they can’t allow this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dissipate.
State appearances are a formality to Arrowhead, but that doesn’t mean the Warhawks don’t want to win.
Much like Mukwonago, Arrowhead hasn’t seen a passing team like Franklin. The Sabers use the passing game to move the sticks as much as they do to go for the jugular with the long bomb.
And running back Chad Walton (1,137 rushing yards, 20 TDs) is the X-factor. With three-foot splits among offensive lineman, something I’ve never seen before in any level of football, defenses simply can’t stack the box against Franklin.
This allows the wiley McGuire to check down to run plays at will, and if you cheat on the run, McGuire will expose man-to-man coverage all over the field all night long.
In a loss to Homestead, the Highlanders were able to throw the ball on Arrowhead but also ran effectively.
Arrowhead has 24 interceptions and 27 sacks on the season, so the defense is ball-hawking.
Also, the offense is balanced. The Warhawks have thrown for more than 1,600 yards and rushed for more than 2,600 yards.
Ty Jager is the leading rusher with 885 yards and 14 touchdowns. But the passing game is a two-headed monster, or at least it was last week.
Johnny Duranso, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound sophomore, was 9-for-15 for 128 yards and an interception. Also, junior quarterback Matt Fricker, a 6-1 junior, completed 3-of-4 passes for 65 yards.
McGuire has so many weapons at his disposal. Plath (703 receiving yards), Meyer (638), Walton (376), Robbie Bell (349) and Cal Wrobel (343) can catch the ball anywhere on the field and take it to the house.
Expect a high-scoring affair, a game that would play into McGuire’s hands.
Despite being half Arrowhead’s size in terms of enrollment (2,260-1,443), this little-engine-that-could squad has been proving people wrong all season.
In a sure-fire classic, look for David to slay Goliath with the ferocity of a saber-tooth tiger.
PREDICTION: Franklin 42, Arrowhead 38
If you go (make this a breakout box please)
What: 2013 Division 1 state football championship game
Who: Franklin (12-1) vs. Arrowhead (12-1).
When: Friday, 4 p.m.
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, 1440 Monroe St., Madison
Cost: $8 per adult, $15 for all-day pass Friday, $30 for two-day pass
– $1 children 6 years and younger
– You can buy tickets online at www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Football/StateFootballTickets.aspx or find the link in the right column of the football page at wiaawi.org
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