DARLINGTON - The way Patteville junior running back William Cooley was breaking tackles and bouncing off defenders, he looked like a ping pong ball.
Cooley rushed for 311 yards on 22 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead Platteville to a 45-19 win over Darlington in the season opener at a muggy Martens Field on Friday.
"It's scary," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said of the Hillmen's running game that features two running backs that weigh more than 200 pounds. "I have one linebacker over 200 pounds. Even if we were in a position to make the tackle, we didn't get off blocks or he just broke tackles. You can't take a 166-pound kid and turn them into a 200-pounder over night.
"The part that is kind of scary is that I saw kids not playing physical. That's inside and if you want to call it - heart."
Cooley capped a six-play, 62-yard opening first quarter drive with a 6-yard TD run. Cooley, who rushed for 115 yards in the first quarter, then rumbled for a 79-yard TD run to give the Hillmen a 14-0 lead with 2 minutes, 52 seconds left in the first quarter.
Darlington forced the Hillmen to fumble and they recovered at their own 17-yard line. The Redbirds cashed in with a 10-play, 83-yard drive culminating in senior Storm Wiegel's 1-yard TD plunge. The Redbirds capitalized on two Hillmen defensive penalties - a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty and a defensive holding call.
Schambow answered with a 43-kickoff return. Platteville's James Bailie made a 25-yard field goal late in the second quarter to give the Hillmen a 17-7 lead. The Redbirds found a rhythm in a hurry-up offense and with 1:32 to go, the Redbirds were able to get into scoring territory after junior Kyle Johnson's 49-yard run. Darlington senior Hayden Black missed a field goal right before the half.
"We were obviously in the game at halftime," Zywicki said. "We had a chance. They just came out and made the plays."
The Hillmen opened the third quarter where they left off with a power running I-back formation. Platteville quarterback Joshua Bernhardt on third-and-4 from their own 44-yard line, connected with Ryan Weber on a 20-yard passing play. Cooley then broke loose for a 46-yard TD run to give the Hillmen a 24-7 lead.
The Redbirds answered when sophomore Cole McDonald hooked up with Aric Geissbuhler on a 38-yard TD pass. Darlington senior Hayden Black's extra point bounced off the cross bar and the Hillmen led 24-13 with 6:51 left in the third quarter. The Hillmen responded by pounding Cooley, who broke loose for an 18-yard TD run to give the Hillmen a 31-13 lead.
After a Redbirds' fumble, the Hillmen offense went to work again late in the third quarter. Bernhardt hit Schambow with an 18-yard pass. Bernhardt then scored on a 4-yard run to put the game away.
McDonald in his first start was 6-of-14 passing for 117 yards and one touchdown. Darlington senior Dylan Nyffenegger rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries. Cole Whalen had three receptions for 44 yards to lead the Redbirds.
Cooley also added a 57-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Darlington sophomore Jason Singer added a 1-yard TD run on the last play of the game.
Zywicki said the Redbirds have the potential to play better and need to clean up some defensive assignments before facing Riverdale's option attack next week.
Cooley rushed for 311 yards on 22 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead Platteville to a 45-19 win over Darlington in the season opener at a muggy Martens Field on Friday.
"It's scary," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said of the Hillmen's running game that features two running backs that weigh more than 200 pounds. "I have one linebacker over 200 pounds. Even if we were in a position to make the tackle, we didn't get off blocks or he just broke tackles. You can't take a 166-pound kid and turn them into a 200-pounder over night.
"The part that is kind of scary is that I saw kids not playing physical. That's inside and if you want to call it - heart."
Cooley capped a six-play, 62-yard opening first quarter drive with a 6-yard TD run. Cooley, who rushed for 115 yards in the first quarter, then rumbled for a 79-yard TD run to give the Hillmen a 14-0 lead with 2 minutes, 52 seconds left in the first quarter.
Darlington forced the Hillmen to fumble and they recovered at their own 17-yard line. The Redbirds cashed in with a 10-play, 83-yard drive culminating in senior Storm Wiegel's 1-yard TD plunge. The Redbirds capitalized on two Hillmen defensive penalties - a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty and a defensive holding call.
Schambow answered with a 43-kickoff return. Platteville's James Bailie made a 25-yard field goal late in the second quarter to give the Hillmen a 17-7 lead. The Redbirds found a rhythm in a hurry-up offense and with 1:32 to go, the Redbirds were able to get into scoring territory after junior Kyle Johnson's 49-yard run. Darlington senior Hayden Black missed a field goal right before the half.
"We were obviously in the game at halftime," Zywicki said. "We had a chance. They just came out and made the plays."
The Hillmen opened the third quarter where they left off with a power running I-back formation. Platteville quarterback Joshua Bernhardt on third-and-4 from their own 44-yard line, connected with Ryan Weber on a 20-yard passing play. Cooley then broke loose for a 46-yard TD run to give the Hillmen a 24-7 lead.
The Redbirds answered when sophomore Cole McDonald hooked up with Aric Geissbuhler on a 38-yard TD pass. Darlington senior Hayden Black's extra point bounced off the cross bar and the Hillmen led 24-13 with 6:51 left in the third quarter. The Hillmen responded by pounding Cooley, who broke loose for an 18-yard TD run to give the Hillmen a 31-13 lead.
After a Redbirds' fumble, the Hillmen offense went to work again late in the third quarter. Bernhardt hit Schambow with an 18-yard pass. Bernhardt then scored on a 4-yard run to put the game away.
McDonald in his first start was 6-of-14 passing for 117 yards and one touchdown. Darlington senior Dylan Nyffenegger rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries. Cole Whalen had three receptions for 44 yards to lead the Redbirds.
Cooley also added a 57-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Darlington sophomore Jason Singer added a 1-yard TD run on the last play of the game.
Zywicki said the Redbirds have the potential to play better and need to clean up some defensive assignments before facing Riverdale's option attack next week.
