Brookfield Central stung by Waunakee
MADISON – You could hear the players’ sobs. The pain was evident in coach Jed Kennedy’s voice.
“This one stings,” he said. Coming so close to winning a championship only to come up short is never easy, but it hurts even more excruciating when victory was within reach. That was the story Friday for Brookfield Central. The Lancers dominated the first half and were in control through three quarters before their state final with Waunakee unraveled.
The Warriors took advantage of a turnover and scored 14 unanswered points during the final 12 minutes to stun the Lancers, 14-13, in the WIAA Division 2 state championship game at Camp Randall Stadium.
With the victory, the Warriors finished 14-0 and won their first championship since 2011.
Central (13-1) missed bringing home its first title despite winning the yardage battle, 310-212, possessing the ball almost 9 more minutes and running 18 more plays from scrimmage. The Lancers were dominant on both side of the ball in the first half, but in the final quarter the roles reversed.
“It was all heart. That’s what turned it around,” Waunakee senior Javian Dayne said. “Not a lot of adjustments. Go out there and play for your brother.”
The 6-foot, 230-pound back, son of former Wisconsin star Ron Dayne, finished with 107 yards in 29 carries and scored both his team’s touchdowns. Nate Carter, the team’s senior quarterback, completed eight of 21 passes for 115 yards.
Central was led by senior running back Zach Heckman, who had 174 yards in 28 carries and made a great effort in making a catch for his team’s second touchdown with 5:27 left in the first half.
“We made a lot of great plays throughout the year. We made a lot of great plays today,” Kennedy saiid. “We just couldn’t get that one at the end,”
Moments beyond the game’s final few minutes might haunt the Lancers.
Central missed an extra point after junior quarterback Drew Leszczynski scored a 9-yard touchdown on the game’s first possession. Late in the first half the Lancers couldn’t reach the end zone after getting first and goal at the 3, an opportunity that resulted in no points after a missed 33-yard goal attempt by senior Rade Latinovich.
In the third quarter, a first down at the Warriors 13 proved fruitless after negatives plays on first and second down set up an unmanageable third down.That led to another field goal miss, this time from 44 yards.
If any of those plays go in Central’s favor, then senior Julian Banda’s fumble may not have been a big of a deal. Ryan Reed forced the turnover and Waunakee took over on the Central 12.
The Warriors felt they had a chance.
“I thought they were going to house it,” Dayne said. ‘ But when they got it, I was like that was crazy. It’s about to be a momentum change.”
He was right.
The Warriors needed only three plays to reach the end zone. Dayne scored on a 3-yard run with 11 minutes left.
Central went three and out its next possession. Waunakee took over and needed 11 plays to cover 58 yards and reach the end zone. That drive included a 36-yard gain to the 13 on a pass from Carter to junior Sawyer Maly on third and 16 and a 2-yard gain by Dayne on fourth and 1. Dayne then scored on a 1-yard run with 5:24 to play..
The extra point by Reese Marek gave the Warriors their margin of victory. Central didn’t mount much of a threat on its final two possessions.
The championship trophy that was so close to coming to Brookfield won’t be leaving Dane County.
“You get into this to work with kids and the ultimate goal is to come down here and compete for a state championship,” Kennedy said. “Our kids worked their rear ends off. It didn’t turn out how we wanted. At some point they’ll look back and say this was a hell of a run. It certainly doesn’t feel that way right now.
“It’s going to be tough saying good bye to 31 seniors who have been as good as any group that’s come through our program.”