DARLINGTON — When the playoffs roll around, you have to be ready for every challenge.
The Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg Knights didn’t want their playoff run to end against Darlington for a third straight season and they came out ready to give the No. 3-ranked Redbirds all they could handle.
However, just like they did in 2019 and again in 2021, the Redbirds dug down deep and got the job done as they rallied from an early 7-0 deficit and then hung on late to vanquish the Knights, 20-7, in a WIAA Division 6 Level 1 football game played at Martens Field on Friday, Oct. 21.
“We are simply happy to be still playing. (BSMS) gave us all we could handle,” said Darlington head coach Travis Winkers after leading the Redbirds to their eighth win in a row. “I have said since before the season that the Defense would be our strength. They have played well all year and did again in Level 1. Sometimes you will win games 34-24 and other times it may be 20-7. You have the capability to do both.”
The Knights (5-5 overall) took a 7-0 lead on the opening possession of the game, marching 61 yards on 10 plays. Senior quarterback Jacob Duerr capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to senior Charlie Wiegel, and then he added the extra point to put the Redbirds (9-1) in an early hole.
After getting shutout in the first quarter, Darlington pasted 10 points up on the scoreboard in the second quarter to jump into the lead. A 29-yard field goal by senior Cadyn Burbach made it 7-3 with 9:46 to go in the half, and 2-yard TD run by junior Breylin Goebel on their next drive put the ‘Birds ahead to stay.
However, the Knights did not lay down their arms. An interception by Wiegel in the end zone late in the half kept the score at 10-7. Then, after Carver Fitzsimons intercepted a Duerr pass early in the third quarter, Wiegel swiped it right back for the Knights.
A 22-yard field goal by Burbach moments into the fourth quarter extended the Darlington lead to 13-7.
BSMS looked like they would answer with a score of their own just moments later, but a hustle-play by Fitzsimons and a goal line stand by the Redbirds kept their six-point lad intact.
Pinned at their own 18 following a sack by Redbird senior Mason Davis, Duerr connected with a wide open Trevor Andrews at midfield. Andrews took off with the ball but was caught from behind by Fitzsimons at the Darlington 13.
“Pre-snap alignment confusion led to (Andrews) being open, but Carver made a great hustle play that could have very well saved our season. Mistakes will happen but lack of effort can never,” said Winkers.
Two more sacks — by one by Bryan Lazaro-Mendoza and another by Ross Crist — and an illegal touching penalty by the Knights on fourth down ended the threat.
“The boys played hard from start to finish. They played a very physical game and battled the whole game. I am very proud of their effort on Friday night and throughout the year,” said Knights’ head coach Todd Bastian. “It would have been nice to punch in a score (there) and see what would have happened after that.”
A few plays after the turnover on downs, Crist sealed the victory when he raced to pay dirt from 57 yards out to put the ‘Birds up 20-7 with 4:08 to play.
Crist ran 10 times for 88 yards and a score and Breylin Goebel added 76 yards and a TD on 10 totes to lead the Redbirds, who finished the night with 240 yards rushing — well below their season average of 330 ypg.
Crist and Maddox Goebel each had two of Darlington’s seven sacks to lead the defense. M. Goebel finished with eight tackles, while Davis and Reagan Jackson added seven apiece for the ‘Birds.
Darlington moves on to Level 2 on Oct. 28 where it will host Belleville (9-1) in a rematch of their SWAL clash from Week 8. The Redbirds won that game 34-24 after leading 34-7 at halftime.
