DARLINGTON - For Darlington senior defensive end Taylor Evenstad, the final week of practice signals the end of his prep football career and the rare opportunity he gets to experience for the third straight year.
Evenstad and Darlington are gearing up to play Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs in the WIAA Division 6 state championship game. It's a rematch of last year's state title game. The Redbirds are playing in the state title game for the third straight year.
"There is nothing better than taking the field for the last time at Camp Randall," Evenstad said. "People didn't expect us to be back here. We always knew we had a good team."
Darlington's defense has two shutouts this year and has been stingy, giving up just 13.3 points per game. The top tackler for the Redbirds is junior outside linebacker Hayden Hardyman with 82 tackles and four fumble recoveries.
"We have been working hard to get better each week," Hardyman said. "We have really stepped it up in all aspects of the defense. We have to focus on doing our jobs."
Hardyman isn't nervous about the state championship game. He's looking forward to the challenge of trying to slow down a Ledgers' offense averaging 37.4 points and 290 rushing yards per game.
"It always feels awesome to go back to your childhood and play where the Badgers play," Hardyman said.
St. Mary's Springs, the defending Division 6 state champion, runs a veer-option-based offense. Staying patient and following assignments will be critical for the Redbirds.
"I think we have good size up front where we can get a good push up the middle and keep their quarterback in the pocket," Evenstad said.
St. Mary's Springs junior running back Fintan Floyd has rushed for 1,383 yards and 23 TDs. Junior quarterback Blake Bauer has passed for 1,507 yards with 12 TDs and five interceptions. The Ledgers' top receiver is senior Tyler Wiza (46 receptions for 757 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Redbirds have had great success shutting down the opposition's top receivers. The Redbirds held Melrose-Mindoro leading receiver Aaron Scafe without a reception, and also shut out Cambridge's top receiver A.J. Parish.
Darlington junior middle linebacker Jesse Sturtz, second on the team with 69 tackles, will have the task of flowing to the ball to make tackles. Sturtz noticed a key about the Ledgers' running backs.
"They really hit the hole hard," he said. "They run hard to get the yards."
Sturtz said the Redbirds' ability to force turnovers (2.7 per game on average) is a credit to the defensive backs.
"Our defensive backs go up for the ball and make plays," Sturtz said.
The Redbirds have 22 interceptions as a team this year. Darlington junior Brayden McDonald has a team-high nine interceptions, and junior Trevor Johnson has six interceptions.
"We encourage aggressive play," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "I don't want them to worry about making mistakes. If we can cause some turnovers it's demoralizing for the other team."
Evenstad and Darlington are gearing up to play Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs in the WIAA Division 6 state championship game. It's a rematch of last year's state title game. The Redbirds are playing in the state title game for the third straight year.
"There is nothing better than taking the field for the last time at Camp Randall," Evenstad said. "People didn't expect us to be back here. We always knew we had a good team."
Darlington's defense has two shutouts this year and has been stingy, giving up just 13.3 points per game. The top tackler for the Redbirds is junior outside linebacker Hayden Hardyman with 82 tackles and four fumble recoveries.
"We have been working hard to get better each week," Hardyman said. "We have really stepped it up in all aspects of the defense. We have to focus on doing our jobs."
Hardyman isn't nervous about the state championship game. He's looking forward to the challenge of trying to slow down a Ledgers' offense averaging 37.4 points and 290 rushing yards per game.
"It always feels awesome to go back to your childhood and play where the Badgers play," Hardyman said.
St. Mary's Springs, the defending Division 6 state champion, runs a veer-option-based offense. Staying patient and following assignments will be critical for the Redbirds.
"I think we have good size up front where we can get a good push up the middle and keep their quarterback in the pocket," Evenstad said.
St. Mary's Springs junior running back Fintan Floyd has rushed for 1,383 yards and 23 TDs. Junior quarterback Blake Bauer has passed for 1,507 yards with 12 TDs and five interceptions. The Ledgers' top receiver is senior Tyler Wiza (46 receptions for 757 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Redbirds have had great success shutting down the opposition's top receivers. The Redbirds held Melrose-Mindoro leading receiver Aaron Scafe without a reception, and also shut out Cambridge's top receiver A.J. Parish.
Darlington junior middle linebacker Jesse Sturtz, second on the team with 69 tackles, will have the task of flowing to the ball to make tackles. Sturtz noticed a key about the Ledgers' running backs.
"They really hit the hole hard," he said. "They run hard to get the yards."
Sturtz said the Redbirds' ability to force turnovers (2.7 per game on average) is a credit to the defensive backs.
"Our defensive backs go up for the ball and make plays," Sturtz said.
The Redbirds have 22 interceptions as a team this year. Darlington junior Brayden McDonald has a team-high nine interceptions, and junior Trevor Johnson has six interceptions.
"We encourage aggressive play," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "I don't want them to worry about making mistakes. If we can cause some turnovers it's demoralizing for the other team."
