Wickenburg football has few regrets as season ends

As the final seconds ticked away on the scoreboard Saturday and the tears started flowing, reality set in for the Wickenburg Wranglers.

Their dream was over, and in a heartbreaking manner.

"What's hard about ending in the playoffs is that we have been with these kids since August," coach Norris Vaughn said. "This is hard to take when you have a dream."

Looking to get back to the 3A state title game for the first time since 2006, the Wranglers came up short in their first (and only) loss of the season, finishing Saturday with a 12-1 record.

Yet as he gathered his team together after the Wranglers' 28-7 loss to Payson, Vaughn couldn't help but smile as he reflected on the season.

"They played well and played hard, and it was a great season "Vaughn said. "Payson's probably the better team, and they deserved to win. I don't think we deserved to."

Their struggles in Saturday night's game couldn't be attributed to just one side of the ball.

" . . . I thought their QB (Ridge Halenar) did a good job picking up third downs and played a great game," Vaughn said.

Offensively, the Wranglers - which averaged more than 45 points a game - managed just 7 points against Payson's defense.

Despite the tough loss to end their hopes, Vaughn and his players will look back on the season and recall a very successful year.

"We're proud of them," Vaughn said. "We have all become part of a family."

Mills echoed his coach's comments about bonding.

"I'm going to miss being on the field and being with my team," Mills said.

The senior quarterback also said he would miss Vaughn's leadership and guidance.

"He's been another dad to me," Mills said, holding back tears. "He was hard on us, but we know he loves us."

Senior linebacker Dustin Denmark, whom one coach called the heart of the team, said he will remember the closeness of the group.

"We're a family, and I'm going to miss playing with these guys, putting on the pads," Denmark said. "We left nothing on the field, and we gave it our best."

Brandon Alexander of Payson tries to get past Manual Harmon of Wickenburg at Paradise Valley High School in Scottsdale.