Lake Country This Month
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DECEMBER 2013 Page 8A • FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY WIAA DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL STATE TITLE GAME: Arrowhead 45, Franklin 24 Another state title for Warhawks Second-half surge earns Arrowhead second straight crown By Daniel Mike Freeman Staff MADISON – Billy Hirschfeld looked around Camp Randall and refelected on the last two years. He took his turn hoisting a state championship trophy, received countless hugs from family, friends and teammates – something he'd done last year as well. But the Arrowhead High School football team's second straight WIAA Division 1 state title – earned with a 45-24 victory over Franklin last month – was a little sweeter than last year's accomplishment. "Being a senior now, there's a total difference," said Hirschfeld, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive lineman. "There's total enjoyment. "Last year we didn't expect to go to the championship, but this year we had high expectations to make it back. We showed everybody we deserved it." Being a senior made the experience sweeter for many players, as coach Greg Malling has stressed their importance throughout the season. "It's a completely different team from last year," senior receiver Jake Miller said. "It was our senior class, and we wanted to win this. We didn't really consider that our championship last year. "We had just as much drive as everyone else in the state to win this year." Arrowhead jumped out to a 10-0 lead with senior Trevor Ostling kicking a 25-yard field goal and Miller catching a 9-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Johnny Duranso. Franklin answered with its own field goal and a 4yard touchdown run from senior Chad Walton. Miller gave Arrowhead a 17-10 halftime lead when he caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Duranso, but Miller stands out on, off the field By Daniel Mike Freeman Staff Mary Langenfeld/Special to The Freeman Arrowhead receivers Ricky Finco, left, and Jordan Argue celebrate a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter of the WIAA Division 1 state title game at Camp Randall. Franklin tied the game early in the second half on an 8-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Sean McGuire. Franklin looked to be on its way to another touchdown in the third quarter, but a fumble was recovered by Arrowhead senior Thomas Eggert and the Warhawks drove 76 yards and went up 23-17 with a 4yard touchdown pass from Duranso to senior Ricky Finco with 2:06 left in the third quarter. "(Franklin) had such momentum, and you get on your heels a bit," Malling said. "That was a big turnover there." Then Arrowhead's defense really took off. "We adjusted a little bit, threw in more of a passing defense and we just got off the ball better," senior linebacker Matt Seitz said. "We did our responsibili- ties better, which was key." Senior safety Charlie Reuteman's responsibility is pass defense, and he perfomed that well on Franklin's next drive. He picked off a pass from McGuire and returned it 44 yards for a score, and a two-point conversion gave Arrowhead a 31-17 lead with 1:09 left in the third. Franklin's offense struggled from there, and Arrowhead added a 66-yard touchdown run from junior Cody Sellhausen and a 70yard touchdown run from senior Ty Jager in the fourth quarter. Franklin's final score came as time expired. "Last year, we were a powerhouse," senior linebacker Sam Seonbuchner said. "This year, we had to work even harder because we didn't have as much talent. "We were up to the chal- lenge, fought hard and got the victory." Duranso completed 18 of 29 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 19 times for 55 yards. Miller caught a Division 1 title game record 11 passes – matching the record for all divisions – for 96 yards, and Finco caught five passes for 113. Jager had 104 yards on seven carries, Sellhausen had 75 on six carries. "We won last year, but there's nothing like this," senior guard George Panos said. "This was our senior year, and we were the first (Arrowhead) team to repeat since 1994. This is a great team, the best team I've ever played on. "Obviously last year was great, but this year, being a senior captain, being with these guys, there's not a better way to finish." Email: dmike@conleynet.com MADISON – While many teammates were in T-shirts, Jake Miller wore a sweater vest and a tie. Teammates wore stocking caps or baseball hats, but Miller wore a newsboy cap. While he may have stood out for his postgame attire at Camp Randall, he really stood out while wearing a helmet and shoulder pads last month. Miller set a WIAA Division 1 title game record with 11 receptions in helping the Arrowhead High School football team beat Franklin 45-24 at Camp Randall. "I've always been a role player on this team, and my role just shined tonight," said Miller, who had 96 yards and two touchdowns. "It worked really well against this team." Miller's scores came on quick slants, the first being a 9-yard completion in the second quarter and the other a 1-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half. "We hit it a few times, and our quarterback got a lot of confidence in that one route," Miller said. "He kept throwing it real well." Arrowhead's offense tends to move the ball around, and Friday happened to be Miller's turn. "Jake's always been a great player," senior right guard George Panos said. "We run a spread, so some players make plays some days and some players make plays the other games. "This was just Jake's night." Miller is often in a helmet and pads. He was the Classic 8 Conference Player of the Year in hockey last winter, and he will play lacrosse at Brown University next school year. • • • Arrowhead sophomore quarterback Johnny Duranso had his chance to be in the state record books. Duranso completed 18 of 29 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. The 235 yards would have been a Division 1 title game record, but Franklin senior Sean McGuire's name will be in next year's program, as he threw for 250 yards in the loss. "Johnny's going to be something else," Panos said. "He's going to be the best player in the state in a couple of years. "He made crazy plays out there tonight, and he's going to do it for years." Duranso had been splitting snaps with junior Blake Mielke throughout the season, but Mielke broke his leg during the postseason. Duranso finished the season with 939 passing yards. "It's what you expect from him," Arrowhead coach Greg Malling said of Duranso. "We have two really good quarterbacks. As both of them work, they were getting smarter and developing a situational awareness. "(Duranso) has a great group of guys around him, and that makes quite a difference." • • • Panos and senior defensive lineman Billy Hirschfeld finished their high school careers at Camp Randall, and they'll get back on the field next fall as both have committed to play at the University of Wisconsin. "I wish my high school season wouldn't end right now. I love all these guys, and I love playing with them," said Hirschfeld. "It's cool I get to play right here next year and practice with all my new teammates." Panos' father, Joe, also played at Wisconsin and is an assistant for the Warhawks. "Playing at Camp Randall is awesome," Panos said. "I played here once before, and to play here again is great. 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