DARLINGTON — The Redbirds (8-1, 7-0 SWAL) completed their conference sweep in the rain at home on Friday, where they dominated Fennimore (3-6, 1-6), 49-0.
In its 21st straight conference win, Darlington averaged a touchdown every four minutes over the first two quarters against the embattled Golden Eagles.
Tye Crist (3 att, 113 yds, 2 TDs) got the scoring engine started just over 30 seconds into the game with a 6-yard rush. He followed with a 56-yard blast three minutes later and had a third carry of 51 yards.
Successful PATs by Denilo Ramos-Godoy set the Redbirds ahead 14-0 just 3:18 into the first quarter.
Four minutes later, Darlington had another rushing touchdown by Maddox Goebel (4 att, 82 yds, 1 TD) on an 8-yard blast.
Ramos-Godoy’s third PAT sailed through the uprights to put the Redbirds ahead 21-0.
Breylin Goebel snuck into the end zone from a yard out for Darlington’s first score in the second quarter at 9:26.
A quick turnaround from a struggling Fennimore offense brought the punting squad to put the ball back in the Redbirds’ hands.
Rather than the Redbird offense making another appearance, Maddox Goebel took things into his own hands. He broke out for a 53-yard punt return touchdown, putting Darlington up 35-0, 16 minutes into the game.
The remainder of the second quarter flew by, but before the break, the Redbirds scored for a sixth time.
Connor Larson (7 att, 54 yds, 2 TDs) got the rock with just under a minute to play in the half and ran it in from four yards out for the touchdown.
Ramos-Godoy was 3-for-3 on PATs in the second quarter as well to give Darlington a 42-0 advantage going into halftime.
Coming out of the break with a running clock, the Redbirds only scored a single touchdown to close the game — Larson’s second score of the night on the ground from 26 yards out at the 5:50 mark.
Yasser Andino-Andino had his moment at placekicking duties and scored on his only PAT of the night.
Despite with the lack of second-half scoring, Darlington picked up the victory. In fact, if the Redbirds had only a single touchdown all game, they still would’ve won.
With their running game wearing down Fennimore and moving the chains efficiently, the Redbirds didn’t need to focus on passing.
To that end, they attempted just one pass all game. Breylin Goebel was the player on the attempt, and his throw fell incomplete.
Darlington’s stellar defensive work didn’t allow a single point all game from the Golden Eagles.
Carter Murray led all Redbirds with four tackles on the night. Roger Volkening III, Reagan Jackson, Maddox Goebel, and Ross Crist all recorded three tackles in the win.
Anthony Morrone also got involved on defense, hauling in an interception.
The Redbirds finished with their third consecutive 8-1 season, including a perfect conference record, and were rewarded with a No. 1 seed in the WIAA Division 6 playoff bracket.
In each of the last two seasons, Darlington’s advanced to the Level 4 game before falling to the eventual state runner up in both contests.
Darlington hosts No. 8 seed Belleville (3-6, 3-4) to open the playoffs at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7.
Should they win, the Redbirds will host the winner of No. 4 seed Racine Lutheran (7-2, 6-1 Midwest Classic) and No. 5 seed Mineral Point (6-3, 6-1 SWAL).
