By Derick Kelly

Prairie du Chien Courier Press

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — Coming off an opening week win over Division 4, defending SWC champions Platteville, Darlington got upset by Prairie du Chien 35-7 on Aug. 30.

The Redbirds, ranked No. 3 in Division 5 after a Division 6 state runner-up season in 2023, entered the game looking for revenge against the unranked Hawks, who defeated the Redbirds 21-19 last year in Darlington.

After both teams each went 3-and-out to start the game, the Redbirds finally broke through on their second drive, when sophomore Zeke Zuberbuhler busted through the Hawks’ defense for a 73-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt by David Argulles was good, and Darlington led Prairie du Chien 7-0.

Things quickly changed in the second quarter, as the Redbirds fumbled on their first play. Prairie du Chien’s Jack MacEachern recovered on the Darlington 12-yard line to give the Hawks optimal field position. 

Blake Thiry got the Hawks on the scoreboard two plays later with a 5-yard touchdown run, his first touchdown of the season. Xander DeHart then followed with a successful PAT kick to even the score up at 7-7.

Thiry made his presence felt on the defense, as he forced and recovered a fumble on Darlington’s 36-yard line.

After a series of positive plays and penalties that pushed the Hawks forward and backward, senior quarterback Abe Amundson connected with senior wide receiver Hunter Straka for a 30-yard touchdown pass. DeHart’s PAT kick was good, and the Hawks now lead 14-7 a little over three minutes into the second quarter.

On their third possession of the frame, Darlington managed to hold onto the ball by piecing together a long, sustained drive. Starting at their own 34-yard line, the Redbirds ate 5:10 off the game clock, as they marched all the way down to the Prairie du Chien 2-yard line. 

Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 2, Darlington decided to go for it and was stopped at the 1-yard line by the Hawks defense, turning the ball over on downs.

After a rushing attempt by Bryce Lenzendorf was stopped for no gain, back-to-back penalties moved the ball out to the 6-yard line, where Thiry erupted for his second touchdown of the game. His 94 yard-run — breaking through several tackles, including one that nearly brought him down near the line of scrimmage — was a Prairie du Chien program record. DeHart’s third PAT of the night was good, and Prairie du Chien now held a 21-7 lead with a little over two minutes remaining in the first half. 

Both teams once again exchanged punts as the half ended with the Hawks outscoring the Redbirds 21-0 in the second quarter.

Prairie du Chien received the second-half kickoff and had its own extended offensive drive. 

Starting at their own 36-yard line, the Hawks used the next 4:40 of game time to march down the field before Amundson found Thiry for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make the score 27-7. DeHart made his fourth PAT of the game, and the Hawks now led 28-7 with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter.

The turnover bug once again hit Darlington. On their very next play from scrimmage, the Hawks’ Ashton Landt forced a fumble that was recovered by Prairie du Chien.

The Hawks capitalized on that turnover on their first play, as Amundson and Thiry connected on a 25-yard touchdown reception. DeHart once again split the uprights with his PAT kick, and Prairie du Chien now led 35-7 in front of a stunned crowd on both sides of the field.

Darlington’s defense managed to force two more Prairie du Chien punts but the Redbird offense was not able to overcome a fourth-quarter goal line interception by Straka and a turnover on downs with 46 seconds left in the game. Prairie du Chien took over on the Darlington 47-yard line and kneeled out the rest of clock to earn a 35-7 victory.

Zuberbuhler (14 carries for 101 yards with one touchdown) and Callum Crist (22-86) led the Redbirds rushing attack that ran 43 times for 193 yards. Zuberbuhler was also 3-for-5 for 56 passing yards with Dante Glendenning (1 reception for 28 yards), Broker Buschor (1-26) and Maddox Goebel (1-2) each catching one pass.

Next up for Darlington (1-1) is a trip to Mineral Point (1-1) to take on a Pointers team that shut out Platteville 16-0 in Week 2.