DARLINGTON — If you had a bingo card during top-seeded Darlington’s (11-0) D6 Level 1 55-14 win over Melrose-Mindoro (5-5) on Oct. 24, you might have gotten a bingo by the final whistle. The Redbirds scored from just about every range as they set off a running clock before the half.
“I’m happy with the way we came and played,” Darlington head coach Travis Winkers said. “This time of year is obviously more pressure packed because if you lose, your season is done. It is important for our guys to play free and if they make a mistake, we have to instantly press pause and reset ourselves going forward. At some point this postseason, we will be challenged and this type of thinking will be crucial for us being successful.”
Dante Glendenning rattled off a trio of rushes, the first from 47 yards out just beyond the 8-minute mark of the opening quarter, to lead his team in both scores and rushing yardage (162) on seven carries throughout the game. The resulting PAT from Yasser Andino-Andino flew through the uprights for the 7-0 advantage.
A four-and-out against the Mustangs resulted in a quick exchange for the ball, and before long, Glendenning was crossing the goal line. His second trip came as a Zeke Zuberbuhler long rushing score was called back due to a block in the back. Glendenning responded on the very next play with a 51-yard blast with 2:46 left in the quarter that Melrose-Mindoro didn’t thwart.
Just under three minutes of regulation were knocked off the clock as the Redbirds both forced a four-and-out, and followed with a successful 47-yard quarterback keeper by Zuberbuhler for a score. Without a penalty on the play, his touchdown counted, and a third-straight PAT signaled a 21-0 lead 10 seconds into the second frame.
The Mustangs’ offense continued to stall as it punted after possessions of just over a minute-and-a-half and two minutes. Meanwhile, Darlington’s offense was rolling on all cylinders.
Zuberbuhler found Ryder Fitzsimons on the right side of the end zone for a 17-yard passing score after Melrose-Mindoro’s first possession. The score came as the Redbirds’ quarterback needed just three attempts on the night. Touchdowns came in a hurry soon after. Immediately after the Mustangs’ second time with the ball in the stretch, Glendenning put in his hat trick on the ground from 33 yards out.
The split at 35-0 likely would’ve traveled in favor of Darlington going into the break with a running clock trying to push the remaining 4:52 down hastily. Fortunately, its defense had other plans. Broker Buschor picked the ball out of the air on Melrose-Mindoro’s next offensive play, and a pick-6 with Andino-Andino’s sixth straight PAT putting the host team ahead 42-0 with 3:35 left in the half. The score stuck as the clock ran out.
The Mustangs finally had a score in their favor as the third quarter was underway, but it didn’t matter. The Redbirds met them beat-for-beat to the final whistle, including scores from Ryder Fitzsimons on the ground from 25 yards out, along with an 89-yard kickoff return by Levi Lancaster.
If you held onto that bingo card, including a free space, you’d have eight spaces in a standard card with a space just outside the range for Lancaster’s return.
Passing wasn’t a major priority for Darlington as Zuberbuhler was 2-for-3, with 41 yards, one score, and no turnovers to his name. Fitzsimons accounted for 17 yards and one score, while Glendenning added 24 yards on the other completion from his quarterback.
Even as the talented back threatened to cross 200 all-purpose yards to lead all players, almost every Redbird who put their hands on the ball gained yardage. Highlights included Zuberbuhler’s 114 yards and one score on seven carries, as well as Fitzsimons (3 car, 30 yds, 1 TD), Parker Mosley (7 car, 29 yds), and AJ Bodden (2 car, 25 yds).
With homefield advantage on its side, Darlington remains home to host No. 4 Fennimore (8-3) following its 50-7 blowout of fifth-seeded Mineral Point (6-4) in Level 1.
The Redbirds’ first meeting at the Golden Eagles resulted in Darlington’s sixth-straight win of the year, 37-6, on Sept. 26. Winkers knows that advancement in the playoffs requires adaptation, and it’s something he’s preparing his squad for against Fennimore.
“Now it is on to Fennimore who has shown with their win over Mineral Point — they know how to make adjustments from the regular season to success in the postseason,” he said. “We expect it to be a physical game on Friday. Our kids have to understand what the score was int he regular season means very little. We have to continue to work hard and have another good week of practice.”
