DARLINGTON — The Redbirds opened the WIAA Division 5 playoffs with a convincing 42-14 win over Richland Center (RC) on Oct. 25. Darlington (9-2) built a 21-7 lead by halftime before forcing turnovers on four straight Hornet possessions to open the second half.
“When we are forcing the pass … we capitalize,” said Darlington head coach Travis Winkers.
Maddox Goebel had three TDs on the ground, gaining 87 yards on 11 carries in the game. Calum Crist gained another 64 yards on nine carries. The Redbirds finished with 199 rushing yards — averaging 6.6 yards per tote — and were 5 of 9 passing for 203 yards. Zeke Zuberbuhler had 122 passing yards and two scores on just eight attempts, and backup Peyton Dempsey connected with Danick Haesler for an 81-yard TD in the fourth. Broker Buschor had 38 yards receiving and a score, while Isaac Crist took his only reception 77 yards to the house in the first quarter.
RC (4-6) tried to grind the ball on the ground. The Hornets found some success, but the Redbirds capitalized when it mattered the most.
“They were really relying on 15-play drives. I give them credit — not many teams do that to us, but they did it,” Winkers said.
RC had a golden opportunity to get within a touchdown late in the second, getting a first down inside the 10-yard line. But a false start penalty and a pair of sacks from Redbird lineman Ross Crist pushed the Hornets to turn the ball over on downs with just 19 seconds left.
“That was huge. They score right there, it’s a completely different game going into half,” Winkers said.
In the second half, the Redbirds forced two more turnovers on downs, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass on RC’s first four possessions. The Hornets’ only score of the second half came late in the fourth quarter on a 73-yard scamper from QB Jayden Schoepp against the Redbird second-string defense.
Darlington will host Milwaukee Academy of Science (10-1) in a Level 2 game Nov. 1. The winner will get either third-ranked Prairie du Chien (9-1) or Brookfield Academy (9-2) in Level 3.
“To play on a nice, flat surface and in front of our home crowd is huge. We get to play on a well-maintained field. Mr. Black does a great job — we have the best grass field in the state,” Winkers said.
