PLATTEVILLE — Platteville certainly had its fair share of chances to grab control of Friday’s night nonconference season opener against Darlington.
Fortunately, the Redbird defense held the fort until the Darlington offense was able to find its footing late in the first half.
The Darlington defense stopped the Hillmen inside the 10-yard line on back-to-back second quarter possessions, and a Breylin Goebel to Broker Buschor touchdown pass just before halftime propelled the visiting Redbirds to a 34-7 win over the Hillmen Friday at UW-Platteville’s Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
Darlington (1-0, 0-0 SWAL) marched right down the field on its opening drive and took an early 7-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown run by senior Breylin Goebel, who made the switch from running back to quarterback this year.
The Platteville defense came up with three fumble recoveries in the first half to slow the Redbird offense.
Senior Davyn Edge poked the ball free from Tye Crist and Lucas Ludlum recovered deep in Darlington territory late in the first quarter to set up Platteville’s lone score of the game.
Senior Riley Donahoe bulled his way across the end line from six yards out, and sophomore Tyler Sasse added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 1:16 left in the opening quarter.
Platteville had two chances to score late in the second quarter, but the Darlington defense held each time.
Will Murray came up with an interception at the Redbird 4-yard line, but Darlington fumbled the ball right back to Platteville. Sasse and fellow sophomore Dylan Weigel ran the ball down inside the Darlington 5-yard line once again.
A pair of holding penalties pushed the Hillmen way back, and a fourth-and-goal completion to senior tight end Zach McClain was stopped three yards short of the end zone.
Crist reeled off back-to-back big runs through the left side, the latter a 41-yard gain that put the visitors in scoring position.
A few plays later, sophomore Broker Buschor juggled a catch with Ludlum drapped over his right arm for a 5-yard TD reception with 24 seconds left in the first half.
The Darlington defense forced a quick punt to start the second half, and a return by junior Maddox Goebel set up the Redbirds deep in Platteville territory. He scored from two yards out to cap the drive and make it 21-7.
Maddox Goebel added a 1-yard TD run in the fourth-quarter to put the game out of reach with 5:12 remaining. He finished the game with 33 yards on 11 carries.
Crist led the Redbirds with 116 yards on 18 carries and scored his own 1-yard touchdown run with 3:43 left in the third quarter to make it 27-7.
Breylin Goebel completed 6 of 12 passes for 109 yards and also recorded a team-high 11 tackles. His favorite target was Murray, who hauled in three receptions for 76 yards.
Platteville struggled to run the ball the entire second half against Darlington’s stingy defense and became one-dimensional.
The Redbirds held the Hillmen to just nine yards rushing on 28 carries.
Carter Murray and Reagan Jackson each recorded seven tackles for Darlington, including a team-high two sacks by Murray.
Junior T.J. Pink completed 15 of 23 passes for 144 yards and one interception in his varsity starting debut. He was also sacked six times and finished with -37 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Ludlum caught four passes for 44 yards to lead the Platteville offense. Tashner added four catches for 36 yards and made six tackles on defense.
Weigel made a team-high seven tackles to lead the Hillmen defense.
The two-time defending SWAL champion Redbirds will host Prairie du Chien Friday at 7 p.m. for the 2023 home opener.
The Blackhawks (1-0, 0-0 SWC) squeaked out a 16-12 win over La Crosse Aquinas Friday night.
