WAUKESHA - Darlington senior Jared Meister hasn't had to pass much this season for the No. 2-ranked Redbirds.
But then Meister had a moment that every high school quarterback dreams of: He hooked up with senior Will Schwartz on a 15-yard TD pass with 12.3 seconds to go to give Darlington a 24-20 win over Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs in a WIAA Division 6 state semifinal game at Waukesha North High School on Friday.
"These kids are fighters," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "They believe that they will win. As long as they had breath in their lungs, they were going to compete to the end."
With the win, Darlington (13-0) advances to the state championship game for the fourth straight year. Darlington, the state runner-up the past three years, will play Regis (13-0) in the title game at 1 p.m. Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
"These seniors have probably had the greatest run in our school's history," Zywicki said. "If you look at their record the last four years, it's 50-something and 3. That is an amazing amount of success they have had. The leadership and drive they have hopefully permeates through the whole team."
The Redbirds trailed by three points with 2 minutes, 44 seconds left in the fourth quarter after St. Mary's Springs running back Flintan Floyd raced in for a 7-yard TD run.
Darlington senior Hunter Johnson had a long kickoff return to set up the final drive. The Redbirds' nine-play, 45-yard drive, culminated with Meister delivering the game-winning touchdown pass. Meister tossed two touchdowns and made sure the Redbirds wouldn't lose to the Ledgers for the third straight year. St. Mary's Springs beat the Redbirds in the past two state championship games.
"He (Meister) stayed in the pocket and delivered a strike to Will Schwartz," Zywicki said. "Right after he threw it, he got drilled. We needed every aspect of our offense. He (Meister) stepped up for us in the passing game tonight."
Early on, it was a defensive battle between No. 1-ranked St. Mary's Springs and No. 2-ranked Darlington. The Redbirds got on the board after Grady Rielly recovered a fumbled punt by St. Mary's Springs senior Josh Moul at the Ledgers' 36-yard line. Several plays later, Darlington Spanish exchange student Alvaro Barrera booted a 26-yard field goal.
After a Darlington fumble in the second quarter, the Redbirds' defense stepped up. The Redbirds had another golden opportunity late in the second quarter after they recovered a Flintan Floyd fumble at their own 32-yard line. Meister connected with Hunter Johnson on a 25-yard pass inside the Ledgers' 10-yard line. The drive stalled after a holding penalty on the Redbirds. Barrera missed a 27-yard field goal and the Redbirds led 3-0 at the half.
The Redbirds' defense limited the Ledgers to just one first down and 30 rushing yards in the first half.
Floyd gave the Ledgers a jolt to start the third quarter with a 59-yard kickoff return. Junior running back Clay Schueffner then busted loose and rumbled for a 25-yard TD run. The Redbirds blocked the extra point and the Ledgers' led 6-3 early in the third quarter.
It didn't take the Redbirds long to answer. Meister hooked up with Trevor Johnson on a 56-yard TD pass to give the Redbirds a 10-6 lead with 8:17 left in the third quarter.
Disaster struck the Redbirds early in the fourth quarter. The Ledgers recovered a fumble by Darlington at the Redbirds' 3-yard line, but St. Mary's Springs was called for unsportsman-like conduct and the ball was moved back to the 18-yard line. Two plays later, Floyd had a 3-yard TD plunge to give the Ledgers a 13-10 lead.
The Redbirds answered with a 71-yard drive in 31 seconds. Meister's pass on the first play looked like it would be intercepted. It was deflected and Trevor Johnson hauled in the catch for a 44 yards. Hunter Johnson then connected with Trevor Johnson on a go-ahead 27-yard halfback pass for a touchdown to give the Redbirds a 17-13 lead.
That set the stage for a frantic finish in the fourth quarter.
"We knew we had to mix it up," Zywicki said of the Redbirds' offense having success in the passing game. "We knew they (St. Mary's Springs) had an exceptional defensive line and excellent linebackers. We picked up some pretty big chunks in the air."
But then Meister had a moment that every high school quarterback dreams of: He hooked up with senior Will Schwartz on a 15-yard TD pass with 12.3 seconds to go to give Darlington a 24-20 win over Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs in a WIAA Division 6 state semifinal game at Waukesha North High School on Friday.
"These kids are fighters," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "They believe that they will win. As long as they had breath in their lungs, they were going to compete to the end."
With the win, Darlington (13-0) advances to the state championship game for the fourth straight year. Darlington, the state runner-up the past three years, will play Regis (13-0) in the title game at 1 p.m. Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
"These seniors have probably had the greatest run in our school's history," Zywicki said. "If you look at their record the last four years, it's 50-something and 3. That is an amazing amount of success they have had. The leadership and drive they have hopefully permeates through the whole team."
The Redbirds trailed by three points with 2 minutes, 44 seconds left in the fourth quarter after St. Mary's Springs running back Flintan Floyd raced in for a 7-yard TD run.
Darlington senior Hunter Johnson had a long kickoff return to set up the final drive. The Redbirds' nine-play, 45-yard drive, culminated with Meister delivering the game-winning touchdown pass. Meister tossed two touchdowns and made sure the Redbirds wouldn't lose to the Ledgers for the third straight year. St. Mary's Springs beat the Redbirds in the past two state championship games.
"He (Meister) stayed in the pocket and delivered a strike to Will Schwartz," Zywicki said. "Right after he threw it, he got drilled. We needed every aspect of our offense. He (Meister) stepped up for us in the passing game tonight."
Early on, it was a defensive battle between No. 1-ranked St. Mary's Springs and No. 2-ranked Darlington. The Redbirds got on the board after Grady Rielly recovered a fumbled punt by St. Mary's Springs senior Josh Moul at the Ledgers' 36-yard line. Several plays later, Darlington Spanish exchange student Alvaro Barrera booted a 26-yard field goal.
After a Darlington fumble in the second quarter, the Redbirds' defense stepped up. The Redbirds had another golden opportunity late in the second quarter after they recovered a Flintan Floyd fumble at their own 32-yard line. Meister connected with Hunter Johnson on a 25-yard pass inside the Ledgers' 10-yard line. The drive stalled after a holding penalty on the Redbirds. Barrera missed a 27-yard field goal and the Redbirds led 3-0 at the half.
The Redbirds' defense limited the Ledgers to just one first down and 30 rushing yards in the first half.
Floyd gave the Ledgers a jolt to start the third quarter with a 59-yard kickoff return. Junior running back Clay Schueffner then busted loose and rumbled for a 25-yard TD run. The Redbirds blocked the extra point and the Ledgers' led 6-3 early in the third quarter.
It didn't take the Redbirds long to answer. Meister hooked up with Trevor Johnson on a 56-yard TD pass to give the Redbirds a 10-6 lead with 8:17 left in the third quarter.
Disaster struck the Redbirds early in the fourth quarter. The Ledgers recovered a fumble by Darlington at the Redbirds' 3-yard line, but St. Mary's Springs was called for unsportsman-like conduct and the ball was moved back to the 18-yard line. Two plays later, Floyd had a 3-yard TD plunge to give the Ledgers a 13-10 lead.
The Redbirds answered with a 71-yard drive in 31 seconds. Meister's pass on the first play looked like it would be intercepted. It was deflected and Trevor Johnson hauled in the catch for a 44 yards. Hunter Johnson then connected with Trevor Johnson on a go-ahead 27-yard halfback pass for a touchdown to give the Redbirds a 17-13 lead.
That set the stage for a frantic finish in the fourth quarter.
"We knew we had to mix it up," Zywicki said of the Redbirds' offense having success in the passing game. "We knew they (St. Mary's Springs) had an exceptional defensive line and excellent linebackers. We picked up some pretty big chunks in the air."
