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The Team of the Week is back again for 2012. The voting this year is upgraded and is featured at the bottom of the article. Voting is open until Thursday at 4 p.m., so be sure to vote for who you feel is most deserving and spread the word. Users may vote once per day.

 

Arrowhead was on the biggest stage in the state in Week 1, despite not playing someone from the state. The Warhawks Week 1 match-up with Minnetonka (MN) was broadcast around the country on ESPN3.com, with production trucks, bright lights, and dozens of cameras around the stadium. Trailing 21-6 at halftime, the Warhawks came out with a vengeance in the second half, as versatile senior Dom Todarello had a hand in all five second-half touchdowns that resulted in a 41-21 Arrowhead victory. Todarello completed all 7 of his passing attempts for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns, carried the ball 14 times for 124 yards and 4 scores, and caught 3 passes for 23 yards. Arrowhead, ranked #1 in the WisSports.net Pre-Season Division 1 poll, travels to new Classic Eight member Muskego next week.

 

Brookfield East wasn't an under the radar team, but they were part of a jumbled discussion in the powerful Greater Metro Conference. While it was just a non-league game, what the Spartans did Friday night has put them front and center in the discussion of top teams in the league and in the state. Taking on a powerful Waukesha West program, B'East posted a 29-0 shutout to open its' season. Defensive end Alec James led a dominating defense, recording three sacks to go with 46 rushing yards on offense. 

 

Hudson is apparently not the place that powerhouse programs from the rest of the state want to play in Week 1. After taking down Wisconsin Rapids 19-0 in the opening game last season, the Raiders knocked off defending Division 1 state champion Kenosha Bradford, who defeated Rapids in the title game, by a final score of 28-7. Hudson and Bradford met in Kenosha last season, with the host Red Devils rallying for a 33-13 win after trailing 13-6 early on. This game opened in similar fashion, with Hudson taking a 14-0 lead. Bradford pulled within 14-7 midway through the fourth quarter, but Hudson put the game away with two touchdowns in the final minute.

 

Luther entered the season with one of the longest active losing streaks in the state – 18 games dating back to October of 2009. The Knights opening opponent was Blair-Taylor, who has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons as one of the best programs in the Dairyland. Mismatch right? As it turned out, yes, but not in the way you might think. Luther jumped out early and never looked back in cruising to a 35-0 victory.

 

Waunakee is simply put one of, if not the best programs in the state. No one will deny that. The Warriors are looking for a fourth straight Division 2 title and could break the state's all-time consecutive wins marks this season. It is hard to imagine a Week 1 game getting more deserved hype than the Waunakee-Monona Grove match-up. Two teams that always seem to butt heads in the playoffs (except last year when everyone was predicting a title game match-up only to see MG fall in Level 2) and have produced some great games in recent years. It may not have been the way people expected it to play out, but Friday's 45-38 Waunakee win more than lived up to the hype. Despite falling behind early and allowing MG quarterback Brett Percey to carve them up for 389 passing yards, the Warriors displayed their championship mettle, rallying several times before ultimately taking the lead for good on a 15-yard touchdown run by new quarterback Will Decorah.