DARLINGTON - The Redbirds opened up their season about as good as they could have hoped. With a blocked punt, a turnover and two touchdowns in just the first 4 minutes, 25 seconds of Friday's afternoon game against Platteville, Darlington was rolling to open the season.
"That's what you hope for," Redbirds head coach Scott Zywicki said after his team's 40-7 win. "There are things we need to clean up, but that's a good starting point."
Mitchell Langkamp broke through the Hillmen line on a 4th and 12 just two minutes into the game and blocked a punt, giving Darlington the ball at the Platteville 23. Two plays later, Seth Rowe plowed his way into the end zone on a 14-yard run.
"Seth Rowe is basically a bowling ball inside. We have some excellent kids in the backfield at our skill positions. If we do get that seem or that crease, we can take it all the way," said Zywicki, whose team amassed 372 rushing yards and 440 total yards of offense. "(Langkamp) is a great athlete and he really made a turning point early."
Platteville kick returner Garrison Jones fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Redbirds the ball back at the Hillmen 30. Five snaps later, Tucker Wiegel danced around defenders for a 7-yard score.
"Tucker is one of those kids that as a defensive coordinator, it's hard to contain him because of his speed. You get a kid running all out, but then when they get there Tucker puts a cut on you. Then the next time you slow down because you don't want him to cut on you and you can't catch him," Zywicki said.
Wiegel gave the Hillmen fits all afternoon. The shifty senior running back also had a 70-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter and a 53-yard kick return in the second that left Platteville players dizzy from turning around trying to find him.
"The juking is pretty fun. I like getting people off of their feet," said Wiegel, who had 158 total yards on just five touches.
Rowe stepped up his game, according to Zywicki. The junior fullback who added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason, finished with 108 yards rushing on 17 carries, scoring twice. Throughout the game, the Redbirds turned to Rowe to bruise his way down field and punish the Hillmen defense.
"It's awesome. It feels really good (wearing the defense down)," Rowe said.
Senior quarterback Alex Erickson continued his spectacular play, running for 89 yards on 13 carries and threw for 68 yards on 4 of 8 passing. Erickson also scored twice, but had Redbird Nation holding their breathe after landing on the concrete block out of bounds at midfield on a late second quarter play.
"I debated pulling the plug (on the drive). That's the risk you run for going for it (another touchdown)," Zywicki said. "I kicked myself for not doing it and I hope things turn out OK for Alex. Thank God, it's his left arm and not his throwing arm."
Erickson missed the final play of the first half, but returned in the third with a bandage on his left elbow, covering up a scrape from the pavement.
"You always want to get back and help your team out," said Erickson, who had picked off a pass in the end zone moments before getting injured.
Zywicki liked the way his defense played and improved as the game went on. After a large turnover of personnel from last year's team, the Redbirds held the firepower Platteville offense to just 272 total yards, turning the ball over four times.
"In the first half, defensively, I think we were watching too much. I thought we were better in the second half," Zywicki said.
One of the turnovers was a Wiegel interception in the first quarter. Platteville junior quarterback Logan Emendorfer felt pressure and hurled up a pass to his top wideout, 6-feet, 3-inch David Bast, only to have Wiegel (5-8) snag the jump ball.
"To tell the truth, I didn't even know the ball was coming. The receiver was trying to block me, then I heard 'ball' and looked up and the ball was right there," Wiegel said.
Darlington (1-0) will take a week to recover before hitting the field again Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m. at home against Wisconsin Heights.
"That's what you hope for," Redbirds head coach Scott Zywicki said after his team's 40-7 win. "There are things we need to clean up, but that's a good starting point."
Mitchell Langkamp broke through the Hillmen line on a 4th and 12 just two minutes into the game and blocked a punt, giving Darlington the ball at the Platteville 23. Two plays later, Seth Rowe plowed his way into the end zone on a 14-yard run.
"Seth Rowe is basically a bowling ball inside. We have some excellent kids in the backfield at our skill positions. If we do get that seem or that crease, we can take it all the way," said Zywicki, whose team amassed 372 rushing yards and 440 total yards of offense. "(Langkamp) is a great athlete and he really made a turning point early."
Platteville kick returner Garrison Jones fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Redbirds the ball back at the Hillmen 30. Five snaps later, Tucker Wiegel danced around defenders for a 7-yard score.
"Tucker is one of those kids that as a defensive coordinator, it's hard to contain him because of his speed. You get a kid running all out, but then when they get there Tucker puts a cut on you. Then the next time you slow down because you don't want him to cut on you and you can't catch him," Zywicki said.
Wiegel gave the Hillmen fits all afternoon. The shifty senior running back also had a 70-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter and a 53-yard kick return in the second that left Platteville players dizzy from turning around trying to find him.
"The juking is pretty fun. I like getting people off of their feet," said Wiegel, who had 158 total yards on just five touches.
Rowe stepped up his game, according to Zywicki. The junior fullback who added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason, finished with 108 yards rushing on 17 carries, scoring twice. Throughout the game, the Redbirds turned to Rowe to bruise his way down field and punish the Hillmen defense.
"It's awesome. It feels really good (wearing the defense down)," Rowe said.
Senior quarterback Alex Erickson continued his spectacular play, running for 89 yards on 13 carries and threw for 68 yards on 4 of 8 passing. Erickson also scored twice, but had Redbird Nation holding their breathe after landing on the concrete block out of bounds at midfield on a late second quarter play.
"I debated pulling the plug (on the drive). That's the risk you run for going for it (another touchdown)," Zywicki said. "I kicked myself for not doing it and I hope things turn out OK for Alex. Thank God, it's his left arm and not his throwing arm."
Erickson missed the final play of the first half, but returned in the third with a bandage on his left elbow, covering up a scrape from the pavement.
"You always want to get back and help your team out," said Erickson, who had picked off a pass in the end zone moments before getting injured.
Zywicki liked the way his defense played and improved as the game went on. After a large turnover of personnel from last year's team, the Redbirds held the firepower Platteville offense to just 272 total yards, turning the ball over four times.
"In the first half, defensively, I think we were watching too much. I thought we were better in the second half," Zywicki said.
One of the turnovers was a Wiegel interception in the first quarter. Platteville junior quarterback Logan Emendorfer felt pressure and hurled up a pass to his top wideout, 6-feet, 3-inch David Bast, only to have Wiegel (5-8) snag the jump ball.
"To tell the truth, I didn't even know the ball was coming. The receiver was trying to block me, then I heard 'ball' and looked up and the ball was right there," Wiegel said.
Darlington (1-0) will take a week to recover before hitting the field again Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m. at home against Wisconsin Heights.
