WIAA D-1: Arrowhead proves too powerful for Franklin

By foxsports
Published

MADISON, Wis. -- Part of the nickname was natural. Johnny Duranso is a football player, and so "Johnny Football" is not all that of a stretch.

No, he is not that Johnny Football over at Texas A&M with all the off-field drama and commotion. But Duranso's playmaking ability, his on-the-fly decision-making skills, quick legs, strong arm and rise from relative obscurity do perhaps resemble a bit of last year's Heisman Trophy winner.

Duranso, Hartland Arrowhead's sophomore quarterback, certainly has a long way to go in his football career. But on the biggest stage Friday night, he shined brightest -- just like the other Johnny Football in College Station, Texas.

Duranso completed 18 of 29 passes for 235 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions to lead Arrowhead to a 45-24 victory against Franklin in the WIAA Division 1 state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium. His 4-yard pass to tailback Ricky Finco in the third quarter gave the Warhawks a 23-17 lead they did not relinquish.

"Johnny's going to be something else," said Arrowhead offensive lineman George Panos, who will play for Wisconsin next season. "Senior year, junior year, he's going to dominate the state, be the best player around. I can already tell. Some of the plays he makes, honestly I don't even believe how he does it. He's going to be a great player, great passer, great runner, all that."

Duranso made his first career start in the seventh game of the season and led Arrowhead to a 36-14 victory against Waukesha North. He was a co-starter with Blake Mielke until Mielke sustained an injury during the second round of the playoffs, and Duranso took over from there. He finished the season with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

He also outdueled Franklin quarterback Sean McGuire, who will play for Western Illinois next season. McGuire completed 21 of 37 passes for 250 yards but didn't throw a touchdown and was picked off three times.

"Greatest leader I think that I've coached," Franklin coach Louis Brown said. "A lot of people watch him in the game and think he's great. You should watch him in the offseason. The practices he has with these guys and how he pushes these guys, how these guys work for him, which ultimately is for me, is unbelievable. He's struggling with this. He's just a great kid. He's going to have a great college career."

Arrowhead (13-1) won its second consecutive state championship and sixth state title overall. Franklin (12-2), playing in its first state championship since 2006, tied the game at 17-all in the third quarter but surrendered 28 unanswered points to fall behind for good.

TURNING POINT

Arrowhead led, 23-17, in the third quarter when Warhawks safety Charlie Reuteman picked off Franklin quarterback Sean McGuire's pass at the Sabers' 44-yard line. Reuteman cut across the right side of the field and appeared to fumble the ball out of the end zone after being tracked down from behind by Franklin tailback Gavin Boeck.

Referees, without the benefit of replay during a high school game, ruled the play a touchdown instead of a touchback. Arrowhead then converted the 2-point conversion to take a 31-17 lead with 1:09 remaining in the third quarter.

Arrowhead's Cody Sellhausen sealed the game with a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the Warhawks ahead 38-17.

THREE STARS

• Quarterback Johnny Duranso, Arrowhead -- Duranso threw touchdown passes of 9, 1 and 4 yards and did not let the pressure of the moment rattle him. He also carried the ball 19 times for 55 yards. He finished the season completing 92 of 132 passes (69.6 percent) for 1,067 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

• Wide receiver Jake Miller, Arrowhead -- Miller broke the Division 1 state championship record by hauling in 11 catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Miller was Arrowhead's top receiving threat all season and capped the year with 67 total catches for 641 yards and nine touchdowns.

• Quarterback Sean McGuire, Franklin -- McGuire's three interceptions don't reflect how well he truly played on Friday. In addition to his 250 yards passing, he also gained 61 yards rushing and scored a touchdown. He threw for 3,220 yards this season with 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

TITLE TALK

• "They dealt with it outstanding. It was a hard year. And not just the pressure on them, but we weren't good at some things. They got better over the course of the year, and that is so hard to do. Most teams don't."-- Arrowhead coach Greg Malling on the pressure on his team to repeat as state champions

• "I had no clue. My shoulder popped out, so I didn't know what was going on. I might have fumbled in the end zone. I might have not. I have no clue."-- Arrowhead safety Charlie Reuteman on his controversial interception return for a touchdown

• "We look like a spread finesse team. But we really like to pound the rock, like to run play-action pass. We know coach talked about grinding and grinding and grinding and eventually teams will break. And that's what happened today. Nothing against them. They're a great team. Sean, great player, great quarterback. I thought we did really well today."-- Arrowhead offensive lineman George Panos

• "Our seniors, we've been behind before. They never panic. There's something to be said about having a group of seniors. They just always seem to think they can come back. Give credit to them. They did. ... (Arrowhead) had some big runs. They wore us down in the end."-- Franklin coach Louis Brown

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