By Casey Lindecrantz
sports@myrjonline.com
MINERAL POINT —Following a 28-point Week 2 loss at Prairie du Chien, Darlington’s football team was hungry for a win. In Week 3, the Redbirds roasted Mineral Point 27-0. (1-2) as Darlington improved to 2-1, 27-0.
Much like their Week 1 win, where the Redbirds shutout Platteville, it took a while to get a score. The first venture into the endzone came 18 minutes into the contest courtesy of a Dante Glendenning rush from three yards out. The 7-0 lead stuck going into the break.
The slow cooker for touchdowns reached prime temperatures in the second half. Zeke Zuberbuhler connected with Maddox Goebel midway through the third for the Redbirds’ second score.
A Talan Crist interception set up the third touchdown of the night. Goebel was the recipient of an endzone-bound pass along the sideline from Zuberbuhler, putting Darlington ahead, 21-0, following a third successful PAT by Yasser Andino-Andino with just under two minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Redbirds forced a turnover-on-downs on just four plays during the next Pointers possession. As the game crossed into the fourth, Darlington wasted no time earning the final score of the night. Zuberbuhler tossed a 41-yard bomb to a double-covered Goebel, who came down with the ball two yards from paydirt. Broker Buschor hauled in the final score of the night from Zuberbuhler with 10 minutes left.
Zuberbuhler was efficient at quarterback in the win, completing 9-of-14 passes for 108 yards, three touchdowns, and one INT. Each of Zuberbuhler’s targets tallied multiple receptions. Goebel had four catches for 64 yards and a pair of scores. He was also Darlington’s lead workhorse on the ground, rushing 14 times for 61 yards. Glendenning led DHS with 49 yards on eight carries.
“I’m happy with how the team responded (to last week’s loss),” Redbirds head coach Travis Winkers said. “We were not proud of the performance the week prior, so it was important to put that behind us and play solid this week. We still have plenty to work on, and will work hard to improve as the season progresses.”
