FRANKLIN -- Last year, Franklin nearly punched their ticket to Camp Randall until they watched it slip away in the final seconds of the semifinal game. Now the Sabers, who weren't even expected to make it this far, have a chance to win the school's second state title.
“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. I'm a firm believer in that,” said Sabers Head Coach Louis Brown. “Ever since I got into the coaching realm, once our teams are ready, I always want to go against the best. That's why we always schedule hard teams and non-conference. And we're really excited for the opportunity. We know we're playing the best program in the state.”
That team is Kimberly. They’re on a 55-game win streak, the longest current win streak in the country.
“The fact that they haven't lost in a while doesn't really change much for us,” explained senior defensive and offensive lineman Hawk Wimmer. “We're still going to come with the same intensity, same power, same enthusiasm that we always do.”
Franklin graduated 28 seniors and has just five returning starters but is filled with fast learners. After dropping the first game of the season, they rattled off 12 straight wins.
“Our players started to buy into the effect where we had a lot of sophomores start in the first game, a lot of juniors, a lot of new starters and they just bought into the effect that we are a good team and we can make it far,” Wimmer said.
And now, even just mentioning the gold ball brings a smile to their faces.
“It would be amazing if we could, really it would,” said senior defensive end and fullback Latron Kirk-Sprewer with a big smile. “It would be one of the best times in my life. And I don't even know. I would be so happy.”
Congratulations, Franklin Sabers on being named TODAY'S TMJ4's Football Frenzy Team of the Week.
