DARLINGTON — It took just two years for Darlington football to make another state championship run in Division 6. 

The hiatus was thanks in part to a promotion last year to Division 5 before being returned to D6 following a short run in last year’s playoffs. Last year’s team also featured losses in the regular season at Prairie du Chien in Week 2, 35-7, and a Week 8 loss at Cuba City, 14-12, that ultimately decided the SWAL title race. 

This year featured no such blemishes — the Redbirds first with a Week 2 victory over the Blackhawks (7-4), 26-14, before following six weeks later with a home win over the Cubans (3-6, 3-4 SWAL), 35-13. 

Darlington enjoyed a high level of success time and again as it ran the table on its opponents. In the process of doing so, the Redbirds also returned the SWAL title home, an honor they lost to Cuba City last season.

“Bringing back the conference title to Darlington was a big deal for us,” Redbirds head coach Travis Winkers said. “We were unable to get it done prior, and any loss you have sits with you. We prepare our kids that each week we would lose, so we have to practice to a certain standard. When you practice a certain way, the scoreboard usually takes care of itself.

The scoreboard certainly showed a team that was ready to dominate. Darlington finished within eight points of its opponents just once — the aforementioned revenge win over Prairie du Chien. The end result was an average margin of victory of 30.4 points.

The Redbirds’ highest scoring efforts came in three of the first four weeks as their season opener featured a 63-33 beat down at Platteville (6-5), followed by a 56-0 shutout of Mineral Point (6-5, 4-3) two weeks later, and a 65-44 shoot-out at Southwestern/East Dubuque (3-7, 2-5) to close the four-game stretch.

Despite its offense not being quite as high-scoring in later weeks, Darlington still managed to eclipse 30 points in every game this year following Week 2, with over-40 efforts coming against Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg (2-8, 2-6), 49-13, and at Belleville (7-6, 5-2), 42-21, in the regular season.

Besides the Redbirds’ state semifinal win, they posted 40-plus point efforts against Melrose-Mindoro (5-5) in Level 1, 55-14, and against Belleville in Level 3, 49-21.

Through state semifinal matchups, Darlington was the leading team in Division 6 in terms of total touchdowns (82), offensive touchdowns (74), rushing scores (56), all-purpose yards (6,393), rushing yards (3,787), defensive touchdowns (5, T-1st), and kickoffs returned for a touchdown (3).

Leading the Redbirds’ offense under center is Zeke Zuberbuhler, who is Top 5 in D6 in touchdowns (39, 3rd), offensive yards (2,460, 3rd), and passing yards per completion (17.7, 5th). He also led Darlington on the ground with 1,128 yards on 122 carries, as well as half of his 36 offensive touchdowns. 

The Redbirds’ dedicated rushers are led by Dante Glendenning, and Calum Crist, who rank first and third in D6 in yards per carry with 12.1 and 9.5, respectively. Both athletes had 79 carries on the season, but Dante Glendenning’s 956 yards and 18 scores are second to or tied with Zuberbuhler. Crist’s 748 yards land him second, while his seven touchdowns are tied for third with Ryder Fitzsimons (40 car, 406 yds, 7 TD). 

The receiving game leaned on three athletes for moving the ball — Broker Buschor, Ryder Fitzsimons, and Glendenning. The first of the three had the lion’s share of touchdowns with nine, and he needed just 18 receptions while earning 397 yards. Fitzsimons was third in terms of yardage (376), but second in receptions (20) and touchdowns (5). Dante Glendenning was first in receptions (24) and yardage (415), but tied for fourth in touchdowns (1).

Defensive efforts featured similar names atop individual stat lines. Dante Glendenning paced all athletes in total tackles (73) and solo tackles (40), followed by Crist (60 tot, 39 solo) and Sloan Glendenning (52 tot, 26 solo). The latter of the three also led tackles for a loss (18) and sacks (5.5). Meanwhile, forced fumbles were paced by Dante Glendenning and Calum Crist with two apiece as Zuberbuhler secured a team-high five interceptions for 127 yards and one touchdown.

The special team efforts also couldn’t be discounted. Yasser Andino-Andino was responsible for a 93.3% PAT conversion rate with 70 on the year. He also converted on 3-of-5 field goal attempts with a long distance of 31 yards.

Preparations against consecutive two-time D7 champion Edgar (13-0) began on Sunday for Darlington as it looks to earn its first undefeated title in program history, despite previously attempting the feat five times. The most recent undefeated run came in 2016, where an also-undefeated Regis team came away with the gold ball, 27-14, while Winkers most recently coached the team to a state championship game in 2023. That year saw the Redbirds fall to a walk-off field goal from Stratford, 10-7, in the D6 state championship.

No matter how Thursday’s title bout shakes up, Darlington’s program is among the very best in the state. Only the upcoming Wildcats team has more state appearances (16), while the Redbirds are tied for second in the state with D1’s Arrowhead at 14. Edgar also sits among the winningest programs at state with nine gold balls, which ties them for second with St. Mary’s Springs behind Stratford (10). Meanwhile, Darlington is with six other schools at four gold balls. 

“We prepare the same way as every other week,” Winkers said. “Dante and Broker both started in that [state] game two years ago. Other kids played special teams. All the upperclassmen were suited and experienced the entire routine. They know what to expect. We need to make sure we don’t have dumb penalties. The only preparation that is different is we move our practice schedule up one day. Monday’s on Sunday, Tuesday’s on Monday, and so on.”