DEFOREST — As sensational as the start was for Darlington, the finish by Saint Mary’s Springs was even more stunning.
The No. 6-ranked Redbirds had visions of Camp Randall in their eyes after jumping out to a 24-0 lead by the close of the first quarter, but the Ledgers dash their state dreams by rallying for 35 unanswered points over the final three quarters to defeat Darlington, 35-24, in a wild WIAA Division 6 state semifinal game played at DeForest High School’s DMB Field on Friday, Nov. 12.
“We came out and played unbelievable in the first quarter,” said Darlington head coach Travis Winkers. “Tip your cap to them. They are who they are. They’re a great team and they’re playing in Level 4 for a reason.”
It was the third time during their postseason run that the Redbirds had to face a team who they played during the regular season. And — just like their previous two playoff wins over Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg and Cuba City — the regular season winner was able to come out ahead again in the rematch. Springs bested Darlington, 20-6, at Martens Field in Week 2 of the regular season after holding the Redbirds to season-low totals in points (six), rushing yards (118) and total yards (186).
On Friday night, the Birds (11-2 overall) blew those numbers away in just one quarter, rushing for 126 yards and gaining 191 total yards in the period while pulling out to a 24-0 lead on the shell shocked Ledgers (11-2).
After forcing a quick three-and-out to start the game, the Darlington offense went to work marching 44 yards on nine plays to take an 8-0 lead just six minutes in. Senior running back Easton Evenstad raced in from 10 yards out to put the Birds on the scoreboard, and then he punched in the two-point conversion run as well.
Darlington’s defense stepped up and forced another quick punt, and Redbirds’ special teams unit came up with a big play of its own with senior Braden Davis taking the kick back 65 yards to the house for a score. Evenstad tacked on the conversion to make it 16-0 with 3:56 remaining in the opening stanza.
Davis made a touchdown-saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff and the defense rose up once again, stuffing the Ledgers on a fourth-down run at the Darlington 18 to get the ball over on downs. Just six plays later, Davis capped an 82-yard trek by taking a quarterback keeper six yards to pay dirt for the Birds’ third score of the quarter, and senior signal-caller added the conversion to put them ahead 24-0 on the final play of the frame.
“If you would have told me we’d be up 24-0 at the end of the first quarter, I would have taken that any day, obviously,” Winkers said.
The Redbirds certainly had Ledgers on the ropes, however they could not land the knockout blow to legendary head coach Bob Hyland’s small-school heavyweight.
Darlington got the ball right back on a spectacular interception by sophomore Breylin Goebel, and advanced back into Ledgers territory before their drive stalled out at the 29-yard line.
Springs’ junior QB Cullen King finally got the Ledgers’ offense moving as he connected with senior James Bohn on back-to-back passes of 17 and 28 yards to set them up at the Redbirds’ 24. Three plays later, junior Sam Baker made a dazzling, one-handed catch in the end zone on a 21-yard strike from King to put the Ledgers on the board at 24-7 with just 1:56 remaining in the first half.
Darlington’s two-minute offense had worked wonders throughout the season and playoffs, and it looked like it was going to produce again as they drove down to the Ledgers’ 12 with time running down. However, after a holding penalty and a fumbled snapped move the Birds back to the 28, the drive ended on a Josiah Moul interception on the final play of the half.
“I felt we stopped ourselves on that drive. If we could have scored right there before the half— knowing we were getting the ball to start the third quarter— it would have been huge,” noted Winkers.
Instead, the Ledgers took all the momentum into the intermission, and then came out and played a near-perfect second half to rally from a 17-point deficit.
Darlington turned the ball over on downs in Springs’ territory on their first two drives of the third quarter — the second time at the Ledgers’ 35 following a nine-yard drive after an interception by senior Hunter Hardyman.
The Ledgers took off from there, scoring on four straight possessions on offense and forcing three turnovers — two on downs and one on an interception — and a punt on the Birds’ final four possessions to complete a stunning comeback.
A 34-yard TD scamper by senior Isaac Hyland brought Springs within 24-14 with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Then, on the ensuing drive, Darlington faced a fourth-and-inches situation from their own 29. Just like he has done all season long, Coach Winkers gambled by going for it but this time the gamble didn’t pay off as Davis was stuffed for a four-yard loss on the play.
The Ledgers were back into the end zone four plays later with King hooking up with Bohn on a 13-yard TD strike with 29 seconds to go third quarter to make it 24-21.
“I shouldn’t have went for it. It cost us. I should have played it safe and punted to make them go the distance,” admitted Winkers.
Springs forced a quick Redbirds’ punt and the offense went back at it marching 68 yards on just six plays to take their first lead at 28-24 of the night on an 11-yard run by Isaac Hyland with 7:27 to play.
The Redbirds answered back with their best drive of the second half as they journeyed down the Ledgers’ 25 before getting stopped inches shy of a first down on a fourth-down run by Evenstad with just under two minutes remaining.
“The holes were there. Maybe I should have went to the Pistol (formation) a little sooner,” said Winkers.
Isaac Hyland put the finishing touches on his big night by ripping off a 47-yard TD run with 1:31 to seal the victory for the Ledgers. The senior finished with a game-high 167 rushing on 19 carries and three scores.
Darlington actually outgained the Ledgers on the ground in the game, 324-244, but Springs managed to outgain the Birds in total, 359-330, thanks to a 115-6 edge through the air. King went 5-for-9 passing with two TDs and two interceptions. Bohn hauled in three receptions for 58 yards and a score.
“We were right there in position. Their guy made some really good throws. They made the plays when they needed to and we didn’t,” Winkers said.
Junior Levi Huempfer, who had over 150 total yards and scored three touchdowns in the first meeting with the Redbirds, was limited to 57 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards on the night. Cole Rottman was a perfect 5-for-5 on his extra-point kicks.
Springs will be making its 13th all-time state finals appearance under Coach Hyland and will be looking to extend their state-record championship mark to 10 when they face No. 2-ranked Colby (15-1) in the D6 championship game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday, Nov. 18, starting at 1 p.m. Colby defeated Durand, 28-24, in last Friday night.
Breylin Goebel ran 18 times for a team-high 94 yards and he completed the team’s lone pass for six yards to Davis to guide the Darlington attack. Evenstad and Davis each ran for 90 yards and a TD for the Birds, while senior fullback Brady Horne added 50 yards six carries.
Evenstad closed the season with 1,153 rushing yards and scored 20 total TDs, while Davis fell two yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark finishing with 998 yards and 15 rushing TDs to go along with eight passing TDs. Breylin Goebel ended the year with 920 rushing yards and Horne finished with 739 rushing for the Birds, who ran for over 4,300 yards as a team season. Both Breylin Goebel and Horne ran for 11 TDs.
Davis — the Redbirds’ all-time touchdown passes leader who had completed 56% of his passes and was picked off just once this season going into Friday’s game — finished 0-for-6 passing against the Ledgers with two interceptions.
Playing in their final game for the Redbirds were seniors Hunter Hardyman, Easton Evenstad, Braden Davis, Brady Horne, Ethan Hendrickson, Alex Mendez, Chase Figi, Rawson Meylor and Wiley Zasada.
“They’re very special. They are my first four-year class here,” said Winkers about his seniors. “I came in here and did things different than the traditional Darlington way and they bought in, especially in the weight room. That’s why this hurts so bad being so close (to state) because we wanted to get them there. All the hard work they put in put us into this position.
“These seniors laid the foundation. I hope the underclassmen take what (the seniors) did and build on it. I hope this (loss) leaves a bad taste in their mouths as close as we were.”
