DARLINGTON - Going into a WIAA Division 6 state quarterfinal game, Darlington junior Jared Meister knew that Cambridge wide receiver J.T. Parish would be the key player to shut down.
Parish entered the game with 30 receptions for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Parish scored three of the Blue Jays' four touchdowns in the playoffs. The Redbirds used an over-and-under man in coverage against Parish with junior Hunter Johnson jamming him at the line en route to three interceptions, three sacks and a 28-7 win over the Blue Jays Friday night. The Redbirds held Parish without a catch and scored 14 points off the three turnovers they forced.
"We double covered No. 5," Meister said of Parish. "We knew he (Parish) was a big X-factor. He's a big and great athlete. We knew if we stopped the run they would go downfield. He (Parish) always goes up to get the ball. The quarterback didn't have much time to throw to an open receiver."
Darlington senior Conrad Blosch rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries and scored one touchdown. Hunter Johnson rushed for 75 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns.
With the win, Darlington (12-0), ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 6 state poll, advances to the Division 6 state semifinal game for the third straight year. The Redbirds, the state runner-up the last two years, will play the winner of Saturday's Pecatonica-Argyle (11-0) and Melrose-Mindoro (9-2) game next week.
"We haven't faced a team that has been this solid," Blosch said. "I think it really has helped us get ready for what is to come. It's a great opportunity. Not many teams get to do that (play in a third straight state semifinal.) I hope we go farther than next week."
Darlington junior Brayden McDonald intercepted his eighth pass of the season to set up the Redbirds' first scoring opportunity late in the first quarter. Two plays later, Hunter Johnson rumbled in for a 10-yard TD run with 11 seconds to go in the first quarter to give the Redbirds a 7-0 lead. With his performance, Johnson eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards and now has 2,058 rushing yards and 37 TDs this year.
With the Blue Jays driving deep into Redbirds' territory, Darlington junior Hayden Hardyman came up with an interception at the goal line and returned it 25 yards to thwart the Blue Jays' scoring opportunity. It didn't take long for the Redbirds to strike. Meister hooked up with Trevor Johnson on a 75-yard TD pass to extend the lead to 14-0 with 5:18 left in the second quarter.
Meister completed two of three passes for 100 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
"It definitely gave us some fire because we knew we were the better team," Meister said. "It definitely gave us some momentum going into our next drive. Coach (Zywicki) said we had to make some plays down field. The coaches are usually right."
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki was proud to see Meister convert some big plays in the passing game with the Blue Jays stacking the box.
"He (Meister) has a cannon for an arm," Zywicki said. "I think now he is starting to learn how to be a quarterback and not just a passer."
Darlington senior defensive end Taylor Evenstad and junior defensive end Chad Gollackson combined on a sack late in the third quarter that forced the Blue Jays in to a turnover on downs. Two plays later, Blosch busted loose for a 49-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 21-0 lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter. The other big play of the drive was Hunter Johnson's 20-yard run.
Trevor Johnson also had an interception for the Redbirds. Darlington junior defensive tackle Logan Muhlstein and junior linebacker Josh Weaver both posted one sack.
"The execution of our kids was outstanding tonight," Zywicki said. "You put in a gameplan and it's very gratifying when they execute it. We used an over-and-under coverage with Hunter jamming him (Parish). Our secondary played great and it gave our line more time to get after the quarterback."
The Redbirds entered the game averaging 370.3 rushing yards per game, but the Blue Jays held them to 185 yards on the ground. Despite a bigger offensive line, the Blue Jays were able to stack the box and relied on their speed and quickness to plug holes.
"You have to do what you do," Zywicki said. "We can't just stop running because it's tough running the ball and throw the ball all over kingdom come. They have an unusual defense where they have guys tie up blockers so they can get to the ball carrier."
Cambridge senior quarterback Steven DeForest capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive, connecting with senior Brenden Jarlsberg on a 25-yard TD pass to cut the Redbirds' lead to 21-7 with 8:37 left in the fourth quarter. The Redbirds put the game away with a five-play, short drive, culminating in Hunter Johnson's 11-yard TD run with 3:02 to go in the fourth quarter.
Now, Darlington awaits the winner of the Pecatonica-Argyle and Melrose-Mindoro game today.
"I have seen Pec play against Potosi in Platteville," Zywicki said. "They are a very physical team that can do a lot of things.
"They command a great deal of respect. If we are going to make it to state, we will have to earn it."
Parish entered the game with 30 receptions for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Parish scored three of the Blue Jays' four touchdowns in the playoffs. The Redbirds used an over-and-under man in coverage against Parish with junior Hunter Johnson jamming him at the line en route to three interceptions, three sacks and a 28-7 win over the Blue Jays Friday night. The Redbirds held Parish without a catch and scored 14 points off the three turnovers they forced.
"We double covered No. 5," Meister said of Parish. "We knew he (Parish) was a big X-factor. He's a big and great athlete. We knew if we stopped the run they would go downfield. He (Parish) always goes up to get the ball. The quarterback didn't have much time to throw to an open receiver."
Darlington senior Conrad Blosch rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries and scored one touchdown. Hunter Johnson rushed for 75 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns.
With the win, Darlington (12-0), ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division 6 state poll, advances to the Division 6 state semifinal game for the third straight year. The Redbirds, the state runner-up the last two years, will play the winner of Saturday's Pecatonica-Argyle (11-0) and Melrose-Mindoro (9-2) game next week.
"We haven't faced a team that has been this solid," Blosch said. "I think it really has helped us get ready for what is to come. It's a great opportunity. Not many teams get to do that (play in a third straight state semifinal.) I hope we go farther than next week."
Darlington junior Brayden McDonald intercepted his eighth pass of the season to set up the Redbirds' first scoring opportunity late in the first quarter. Two plays later, Hunter Johnson rumbled in for a 10-yard TD run with 11 seconds to go in the first quarter to give the Redbirds a 7-0 lead. With his performance, Johnson eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards and now has 2,058 rushing yards and 37 TDs this year.
With the Blue Jays driving deep into Redbirds' territory, Darlington junior Hayden Hardyman came up with an interception at the goal line and returned it 25 yards to thwart the Blue Jays' scoring opportunity. It didn't take long for the Redbirds to strike. Meister hooked up with Trevor Johnson on a 75-yard TD pass to extend the lead to 14-0 with 5:18 left in the second quarter.
Meister completed two of three passes for 100 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
"It definitely gave us some fire because we knew we were the better team," Meister said. "It definitely gave us some momentum going into our next drive. Coach (Zywicki) said we had to make some plays down field. The coaches are usually right."
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki was proud to see Meister convert some big plays in the passing game with the Blue Jays stacking the box.
"He (Meister) has a cannon for an arm," Zywicki said. "I think now he is starting to learn how to be a quarterback and not just a passer."
Darlington senior defensive end Taylor Evenstad and junior defensive end Chad Gollackson combined on a sack late in the third quarter that forced the Blue Jays in to a turnover on downs. Two plays later, Blosch busted loose for a 49-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 21-0 lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter. The other big play of the drive was Hunter Johnson's 20-yard run.
Trevor Johnson also had an interception for the Redbirds. Darlington junior defensive tackle Logan Muhlstein and junior linebacker Josh Weaver both posted one sack.
"The execution of our kids was outstanding tonight," Zywicki said. "You put in a gameplan and it's very gratifying when they execute it. We used an over-and-under coverage with Hunter jamming him (Parish). Our secondary played great and it gave our line more time to get after the quarterback."
The Redbirds entered the game averaging 370.3 rushing yards per game, but the Blue Jays held them to 185 yards on the ground. Despite a bigger offensive line, the Blue Jays were able to stack the box and relied on their speed and quickness to plug holes.
"You have to do what you do," Zywicki said. "We can't just stop running because it's tough running the ball and throw the ball all over kingdom come. They have an unusual defense where they have guys tie up blockers so they can get to the ball carrier."
Cambridge senior quarterback Steven DeForest capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive, connecting with senior Brenden Jarlsberg on a 25-yard TD pass to cut the Redbirds' lead to 21-7 with 8:37 left in the fourth quarter. The Redbirds put the game away with a five-play, short drive, culminating in Hunter Johnson's 11-yard TD run with 3:02 to go in the fourth quarter.
Now, Darlington awaits the winner of the Pecatonica-Argyle and Melrose-Mindoro game today.
"I have seen Pec play against Potosi in Platteville," Zywicki said. "They are a very physical team that can do a lot of things.
"They command a great deal of respect. If we are going to make it to state, we will have to earn it."
