DARLINGTON — One more win — that’s all the Darlington Redbirds need to make it back to the WIAA state championship for the 14th time in program history, which is also the second most in state history.

To get there, Darlington (13-0) will have its toughest test of the season to date: Unbeaten Manitowoc Lutheran (13-0). Both teams finished ranked in the top 4 in the final Division 6 Coaches Poll. 

“They are probably the first team we face that probably can match our skill players with talent,” Redbirds head coach Travis Winkers said following his team’s 49-14 win over fellow SWAL Level 3 qualifier Belleville (7-6) on November 7. “They also run option stuff, a lot of outside veer, inside veer, midline stuff. They’ve been crushing teams and I think have had just one tough game. We’ve got to make sure we are the more physical team, and we can’t have turnovers in a game like that.”

Darlington will face Manitowoc Lutheran at Waukesha West at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14.

Fourth-ranked Manitowoc Lutheran crushed Cedar Grove Belgium (9-5) 55-14 in Level 3. Also reaching Level 4 on the other side of the bracket is No. 1 Edgar (12-0), the defending D7 champion, and fifth-ranked Mondovi (11-1), which avenged a Week 8 loss to second-ranked Eau Claire Regis (11-1). Edgar has the most state championship appearances (15) in Wisconsin history. Darlington’s 13 is tied with St. Mary’s Springs, which lost in Level 2, and Arrowhead, which is in the D1 semifinal. Stratford (12) is in the D5 semifinal.

Against Belleville, the Redbirds were efficient with the ball, averaging 9.2 yards per play on 38 snaps, scoring on average once every six plays. Zeke Zuberbuhler added an 80-yard kick return for a score in the first quarter, which ignited the sidelines and home crowd in a way the home team wouldn’t relinquish.

Belleville opened the game with a strong 83-yard scoring drive, marching down the field on eight plays. Quarterback Rayden Taylor capped the drive with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Cayson Helwig. 

The Wildcats, a seven seed, were trying to match their Cinderella postseason run from 2024, in which they were an 8-seed and won their way to the state semifinal. After back-to-back upsets again this postseason, the Wildcats were playing with house money once more. The early strike gave the Belleville sidelines and visiting fans something to cheer about, and a glimmer of hope for another win.

“That first drive was awesome. It was the type of drive we needed,” said Belleville coach Mike Nolden. “We knew we needed to play a perfect game, and it kind of got away from us from there.”

All that momentum floated away almost immediately, however, as Zuberbuhler went untouched on the ensuing squib kick kickoff to tie the game. Darlington’s defense then forced a three-and-out, and the Redbirds were in business from there. 

“We should have gotten off the field on that first drive, but kudos to them, they picked up a big third and long, and then they scored,” Winkers said. “But then we returned the kickoff right away. We have some explosive playmakers. We told the guys in the huddle on the kick return that, ‘Hey, this is the playoffs. There’s going to be moments like this. We know this. We play good teams.’ I didn’t think we were going to respond on one play, but it’s pretty awesome that we did.

On Darlington’s third play from scrimmage, Dante Glendenning broke through the line for a 50-yard touchdown, with Zuberbuhler throwing his hands up to signal “touchdown” as soon as Glendenning reached the line of scrimmage. Belleville fumbled away the following kick return, and the Redbirds used the short field to their advantage, with Calum Crist scoring from a yard out to make it 21-7. 

It was Crist’s only carry of the game, as he played limited snaps in his return to action for the first time since Week 9. Winkers was glad to see him back on the field in Level 3.

“He’s one of our emotional leaders. He’s a two-way all-conference player and defensive player of the year. He’s one of our premier players,” Winkers said.

On the first play of the second quarter, Glendenning took a pitch to the left side for a 61 yard score to increase the lead to 28-7. Glendenning carried the ball just five times but gained 115 yards (23.0 ypc).

Belleville had just one last scoring effort, as Taylor connected with Max McCluskey for a 20-yard strike with 4:04 left in the second quarter. The Redbirds again countered, with Zuberbuhler darting 54 yards for a TD with 2:26 left in the half to make it 34-14. 

In the third quarter, Zuberbuhler connected with a diving Broker Buschor in the back of the end zone for another TD, and Glendenning caught the two-point conversion to make it 42-14. With 9:52 left in the game, Zuberbuhler found Peyton Dempsey, who made an acrobatic catch for an 11-yard TD on fourth down, triggering the running clock.

Darlington installed its reserves the rest of the way. Belleville scored against the Redbirds No. 2 defense four minutes later with a 65-yard drive. The Wildcats added another 28 yards on the final series before the clock ran to zero.

Belleville had 266 yards of offense in 51 plays — 5.2 ypp. Darlington, meanwhile, had 351 yards on 38 plays.

Dante Glendenning had 115 yards rushing and three catches for 34 yards. Zuberbuhler had 85 yards on 7 of 9 passing, with another 110 yards rushing on 13 carries. Darlington registered eight tackles for a loss, including two TFLs and a sack for Sloan Glendenning alone. Dante Glendenning had three TFLs and a team-high nine tackles in all.

“We have a very unselfish team. At the end of the day, they just want to win and don’t care who scores,” Winkers said. “We’re extremely blessed to have some talented kids that have put a lot of time into making themselves better.”

For Belleville, Taylor had 162 yards passing and 51 yards on the ground. Steven Grunnet had 54 rushing yards and a late score.

“I was happy with our effort. Obviously the outcome is a little upsetting,” Nolden said. “The most disappointing thing is just those 11 seniors, I’ll never get to coach them again. I hope I’ve done enough to create bonds that will continue after high school.

“The last two years, kind of these special runs as a seven and eight seed, picking up five playoff wins as the underdog. That was the message at the end of the game. How many schools can say they played in back-to-back sectional finals? Not many. And we did it all on the road.”

Next year Belleville moves out of the SWAL and to the Eastern Suburban Conference in 2026.