DARLINGTON — The Redbirds snapped a 3-game losing streak to Prairie du Chien spanning back to 2017 with a 26-14 home win over the Blackhawks on Aug. 29.
“I don’t know the last time Darlington has beaten them, but we were 0-3 against them in my seven years,” Redbirds head coach Travis Winkers said. “It was a good win against a good program.”
A win didn’t come easy for the eighth-ranked team in Division 6, who surrendered the opening score mere minutes into the opening quarter. It wouldn’t be long before Zeke Zuberbuhler gave his home crowd a part two to his week one performance that included seven total scores. Dante Glendenning cleared 49 yards on the ground partway through the first, and the starting quarterback followed soon after with a rushing score to tie the matchup.
The Blackhawks managed to stay a step ahead through the first, adding a touchdown on the ground as minutes ticked away. What they didn’t count on, was that being their final score of the night.
“I was expecting a much tighter game [than against Platteville],” Winkers said. “I like the way our kids responded after their two big pass plays early. We took their best shot early and didn’t flinch.”
Yasser Andino-Andino kept his kicking accuracy at 100% with a field goal to trim the deficit to 14-10 after the game crossed into the second period. Darlington’s defense secured a touchdown thanks to Cagyn Paisley as he fell on a punt deflected by Calum Crist in the PdC end zone. Even before the PAT flew between the uprights, the lead was flipped for the final time in the game. Despite Zuberbuhler crossing the goal line again — this time via a keeper from 45 yards out — along with a safety for the Redbirds stemming from an errant snap to a punter, the points were merely icing on the cake.
Darlington’s offense ran by and through Zuberbuhler, who led his team’s passing (7-for-10, 100 yds) and rushing (14 car, 94 yds, 2 TD) attack. His favorite targets were Glendenning (3 rec, 46 yds) and Crist (2 rec, 24 yds). The pair also sat just behind Zuberbuhler in the rushing game. Glendenning totaled 54 yards on three carries while Crist earned 49 yards on nine carries. Andino-Andino was a flawless 3-for-3 on PAT’s and 1-for-1 on field goals, putting him at a perfect 13-for-13 to open the year.
“We schedule non-conference games versus good teams knowing it could very well end in a loss,” Winkers said. “Other programs schedule games they know they can win to gain confidence. We don’t do that because we feel that is a sense of false confidence. We want to play teams that expose our weaknesses so we can work on fixing them for conference games and for the playoffs. So we are happy knowing we are sitting at 2-0 against two quality non-conference opponents.”
The Redbirds remain at home to host Mineral Point (1-1) as each team breaks the seal on the conference schedule. The Pointers most recently fell to Platteville, whom Darlington slaughtered 63-33 in its season opener.
