FINAL: Arrowhead 35, Hartford 0.
Arrowhead advances to Level 4 playoffs.
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Hartford gets the ball back, but it's about getting experience for the second-stringers at this point, with the clock under 2 minutes and rolling on. The Warhawks administer and absolutely dominant performance and now sit one game away from their third straight state title game. They lost to Homestead in 2006, defeated Homestead in 2007 and could face them again in 2008's title game. HHS already won today and reached the final four.
The Warhawks will face either Appleton North or Stevens Point in next weekend's state semifinal.
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The Warhawks reserves are in the game, with the task of milking this clock. We're under 5 minutes on the constant run.
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The snap goes through Hartford's punter's hands, but this time he recovers to still get a kick and get the ball down to the AHS 28. Nice play by Dumke. 7:45 to go in this contest. I'm hearing that Stevens Point has a 21-14 lead over Appleton North in the other Division 1 quarterfinal, with 9:13 left in the third quarter. The winner of that game will face Arrowhead next weekend.
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Arrowhead just runs the ball pinned in its own end, and Hartford winds up calling a time out with 7 seconds left in the third quarter. The Warhawks will be punting on fourth down from their own 3, with the outcome already fairly academic. Just a matter of how long it takes -- if Hartford scores, the running clock will stop and things will slow down.
Holy smokes, a SIXTY SEVEN yard punt from the back of the end zone. It landed at the Hartford 46 on the fly, then rolled to the 33. Jeff Budzien is a freak.
End third quarter: Arrowhead 35, Hartford 0.
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The Orioles disaster gets worse.
On their second try inside the 2 looking for the first Hartford score of the game, Arrowhead strips Krueger and recovers the fumble deep in their own end zone. Hartford's best chance of the game to score goes by the boards, and the clock keeps running. This game is going to end quickly at this rate.
It's still 35-0, pushing a minute left in the third quarter.
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Hartford finally gets something to be happy about -- a bomb caught by Gabe Johnson for 52 yards. That put them inside the Arrowhead 40, and Krueger then ran the ball into the red zone.
AHS forced the Orioles into a fourth down and long, but a late hit penalty re-energized the drive. Hartford is on the 2 with 1st and goal.
There is a running clock by the way. It's under 4 minutes in the third.
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Arrowhead scores again
A 34-yard pass connection between Tom Parish and Russ Finco leads to a 1st down on the 14, and that's when the ball goes to Brian Crook, who rushes the rest of the way for another touchdown.
We're going to get and see once and for all (I've heard conflicting reports) whether or not they use a running clock in the playoffs when a team is down by 35.
Arrowhead 35, Hartford 0, 8:31 3rd.
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Balthazor just delivered a crowd-rocking hit on a screen pass, sending Hartford to a 3rd and 17 situation from its own 8. Balthazor absolutely destroyed the receiver. A penalty pushes the Orioles back even further.
Rumor has it Greendale leads Wisconsin Lutheran at the half, 13-7. Big upset in the works? That might be as big as Hamilton over Waunakee.
Fourth down after a decent completion. Time for another punt.
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Second half kickoff goes to Hartford -- the first time it's not a touchback. It's about two yards deep in the end zone, and the Orioles brought it out -- only to be tackled at the 19. So Jeff Budzien doesn't kick it out of the end zone finally -- and it helps Arrowhead.
An omenous start for Orioles fans.
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Hamilton shocked Waunakee, 14-7. Here's what I just posted on Lake Country Watch. Chris Schuck sent in the information.
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For the curious, the rain has not slowed down. It's been steady and consistent all game long. I'm grateful for my roof, but I'm not immune from the sub-freezing temps. Brrrrr.
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Hartford does nothing with its final drive. They'll need to make some incredible adjustments to get back into the game.
Halftime: Arrowhead 28, Hartford 0.
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Nobody can stop Brian Crook
Reminiscient of his long touchdown run in the state title game last year, Brian Crook ran straight up the middle for 42 yards -- the TWENTY FOURTH Arrowhead touchdown of greater than 40 yards this year -- and it's suddenly 28-0 with 2:!5 to play in the half. The Warhawks are in complete control, and not to jump the gun, but I can't imagine Hartford getting back into this contest.
Arrowhead 28, Hartford 0, 2:15 2nd quarter.
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Another turnover for the Arrowhead defense.
Chris Pendergast picks off Stephans and puts the Warhawks on their own 49. They'll have 3 minutes to get down half the field and go up by four scores.
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Hartford is sustaining a drive, but there have been a lot of stoppages with a penalty and time out. They're a couple yards shy of the 50 with 3:36 left in the half. They need a big play score, and at least a touchdown before halftime to stay in this game.
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Update from Hamilton: The Chargers have a 14-7 lead over Waunakee with 9 minutes remaining in the game. Waunakee just scored on a 1-yard run to pull within a score.
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Arrowhead scores once again
I expected AHS to win this game, but they're quickly turning this into a route. On the 40, Parish pitched left to Crook, who picked up a head of steam and got to the sideline. He broke a couple tackles, then bust all the way to the end zone.
It's a 40-yard touchdown, their 23rd touchdown of 40 yards or longer this season. Budzien's boot is good, and the rout is on?
Arrowhead 21, Hartford 0, 7:05 2nd quarter.
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Runs by Ramsey and Crook lead to first downs, and though Arrowhead has slowed its tempo somewhat, they now have the ball on the Hartford 40 with a 1st down and 7:15 on the half clock.
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Joey Balthazor catches the ankle of Hartford quarterback Jordan Stephens on third down, and Matt Boerner finishes the hit that sends the Orioles back to 4th and 10 on their own 30. Another punt follows, and with 9 minutes left in the half, the Warhawks can add to their 14-0 lead.
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Budzien kicks another one out of the end zone. He's one of the best kickers in the country according to those in the know, and he's proving it.
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Arrowhead scores again
An AMAZING catch by Russel Finco leads to another Warhawks touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Parish faked handoff, dropped back and arched a high ball to the right corner. Finco had a step on his man, but the ball was a hair too lazy, so Finco went up and got undercut by his defender. He came down on top of his guy -- with the football -- in the end zone.
Arrowhead 14, Hartford 0, 11:53 2nd quarter.
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Ramsey makes the last play of the first quarter a big one. The big play threat runs from the AHS 42 on third down, needing 8 yards, to the Hartford 30 for a 28-yard scamper. The Warhawks will look to add to their lead.
After first quarter: Arrowhead 7, Hartford 0.
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Ah, but the Warhawks give it right back this time. Ramsey, whose fumble last week gave Oshkosh West new life, dropped the ball trying to make a second effort on a 2nd down play. Hartford gets the ball back deep in their own territory.
A monster hit by Jeremy Oleniczak ensues on the succeeding possession, and Charlie Geib provides a sack on third down to force a punt. AHS gets the ball, but now it's 1st and 10 on its own 40.
Still 7-0, under a minute to go in the first.
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Another huge play by the Warhawks (or a nice break, if you want to look at it that way) sets up crazy-good field position.
A bad snap by Hartford compels punter Darin Dumke to run with it and Joey Balthazor -- one of the best defensive players in the Classic 8 -- makes a tackle to give AHS the ball at the HHS 29.
Back on offense.
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Krueger runs for a Hartford first down on 3rd and 2, then churns forward for another five yards as the Orioles get to their 40. A half-hearted keeper attempt leads to a sack by Mike Stoll, forcing Hartford into a 3rd and 5.
Krueger met for no gain. The Warhawks will get the ball back with just under 4 minutes left in the opening period.
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Arrowhead scores a touchdown
Brian Crook gets hit, but the second effort finds him lunging over the end zone line for a touchdown. Crook gets another score to his touchdown tally, well beyond 20 for the season. Jeff Budzien takes the extra point (and blasts the subsequent kickoff for a touchback).
Defense leads to offense, and the Warhawks strike first.
Arrowhead 7, Hartford 0, 6:30 1st quarter.
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Arrowhead gets it right back. A big hit on first down against the running back Krueger leads to a fumble, and Jake Poehls recovers to give AHS possession on the HHS 19.
On 2nd down, Crook rushes to the 4. Arrowhead knocking on the door with 7 minutes left in the first quarter.
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The punt is buried inside Hartford's own 20, which is where the Orioles will take their first possession.
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Ramsey takes a pitch 10 yards for another first -- Arrowhead slicing through the vaunted HHS defense. An option to Crook is not nearly as successful, with Malinowski stepping up to hit the running back for a two-yard loss.A fumbled snap on 2nd down is picked up by Ramsey, and now AHS finds itself at 3rd and 13. Throwing is not the AHS speciality, even though they did plenty of it in a late win over Waukesha West last week.
Pass incomplete. Punting time for the Warhawks. No score, 8 minutes left in the 1st.
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After a penalty pushes the Warhawks back five yards, Ramsey gets hit at the line and maybe scratches for a yard to make it 3rd and 6. Ramsey and junior Brian Crook make up the Warhawks' stellar one-two punch, a big play machine.
Parish slips on a bit of a broken play, but he regains his footing and races seven yards to move the chains. Parish calls his own number again and burrows past midfield, with a 2nd and 3 forthcoming.
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AHS starts at its own 28 yard line after Ramsey took a pitch on the kickoff. It's hovering near freezing, and I hear the AHS coaches tell his players to "stay loose," which is good advice in the cold.
AHS quarterback Tom Parish takes a keeper 9 yards on the first play from scrimmage, setting up a 2nd and 1.
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Arrowhead is wearing its traditional home whites, and the Orioles come in with black jerseys with orange and black trim. The Warhawks will march to the north end zone in the first quarter after receiving the kickoff. We're all set!
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Hartford has won the toss and deferred, so Arrowhead will take the opening kickoff. Still 3:40 on the pregame clock, so we're not quite to kickoff yet, but we will be soon. Stay tuned.
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Just got an update from Chris Schuck, watching the Hamilton football team at home against Waunakee. The Chargers have a 7-0 lead with 49 seconds remaining in the first half.
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Arrowhead (11-0) vs. Hartford (10-1)
My fingers are freezing, but at least I have a roof over my head to protect against the sporadic precipitation at Arrowhead High School. The field turf will come in handy with today's inclement weather, which will be a potential storyline in the WIAA Division 1 quarterfinal.
I've been told Hartford runs a power-I, featuring running back Austin Krueger, who was a late-season callup from the varsity reserve and has stepped up in the playoffs. Nick Malinowski anchors the defense at cornerback for a team whose only loss came against Wisconsin Little Ten powerhouse Wisconsin Lutheran in the regular season. Linebacker Tyler Dippel, who I'm told takes his turn lining up at the line of scrimmage as well, is a University of Wisconsin as well.
The Orioles have seen a steady diet of Classic 8 teams this year, defeating Waukesha West in the first round and Kettle Moraine in the second. Last week against the Lasers, Hartford scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win by two scores.
Arrowhead, as you know, is the defending state champion, with a 25-game winning streak that dates back to a state title loss in 2006. The team that defeated them then -- and the team that AHS beat in last year's title game is Homestead. The Highlanders are still alive this year as well, advancing to the state semifinals with a resounding win over Racine Park earlier today.
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Check back later today when Hartford kicks off at Arrowhead at 4 p.m. for the WIAA Division 1 Level 3 football game. The winner advances to the state semifinals, and the Preps Alcove will provide live updates from the action.