DARLINGTON — The Redbirds ended the regular season on a high note, throttling Platteville 50-14 Nov. 6 at Marten’s Field. With the win, Darlington earned the top seed in its four-team regional, the culminating event in the WIAA football season, and will host La Cross Aquinas Nov. 13, with the winner getting either Lancaster or Melrose-Mindoro.

“It’s hard to believe this would normally be like Level 3 in November with the weather we had,” Darlington coach Travis Winkers said. “We’re grateful, like everyone is, for every game that we get. We obviously wish things were better and there were regular playoffs, but we’re just excited every week we get to play.”

Against Platteville (2-5), Darlington (4-1) dominated the game outside of the first 3-plus minutes of the first quarter. Junior quarterback Braden Davis fumbled the ball on the game’s second play, giving the Hillmen possession at the Redbird 28. Seven plays later, Platteville went up 7-0 on a 4-yard touchdown run by John Goomey.

“Obviously not the way you want to start a game, but it is what it is and we got back to doing what we needed to do, and I’m happy for that,” Winkers said. 

The Redbirds responded immediately. Junior Brady Horne broke off a 19-yard run on Darlington’s next play from scrimmage, and two plays later Davis busted off a 34-yard run down the home sidelines, getting pushed out of bounds at the Platteville 10. Davis capped the drive with a 6-yard score on second down.

Defensively, the Redbirds also came up big time and time again. The Redbirds forced a 3-and-out on the next drive, and the offense picked up right where it left off, as Davis connected with Carter Lancaster on a 43-yard pitch-and-catch on the first play. Three plays later, Davis scored again, this time on a 10-yard run.

The offense was clicking on all cylinders at that point. On Darlington’s next drive, Davis connected with Cayden Rankin for a 68-yard touchdown on a swing pass to the left flat to put the Redbirds up 18-7 with 10:52 left in the first half. Less than six minutes later, Horne plunged in for a 1-yard score to make it 24-7.

Horne began filling in two weeks earlier as starting running back Easton Evenstad went down with an injury. In those two weeks he collected 302 yards rushing with two scores.

“I’ve just had to step up and do my duties,” Horne said. “I’ve been working hard in practice — we all have. Our line has been really working on it and getting good holes.”

After Horne’s first score against Platteville, the Redbirds got the ball back by recovering a fumbled snap at the Hillmen 18. Two plays later, Horne broke a tackle and pranced into the end zone for his second TD of the game and fourth of the season.

“It feels awesome,” Horne said. “I’ve always loved running the ball and I’ve finally gotten an opportunity. I love getting as many yards as I can.”

The five TDs and 30-7 lead at halftime seemed like a strong half, but the most glaring issue the Redbirds had to that point was connecting on point after attempts. In a win over Potosi-Cassville a week earlier, senior kicker Cole Crist kicked a game-winning field goal. But against Platteville, Crist and his backup missed three kicks, and the Redbirds failed to convert on two 2-point conversion attempts.

The missed kicks didn’t matter, however, as the Redbirds made quick work of Platteville in the second half. The Hillmen lost 10 yards on the opening drive and Darlington methodically drove down the field and scored again on a 12-yard pass from Davis to Lancaster with 8:22 left in the third to make it 36-7. Another 3-and-out forced a Platteville punt, giving the Redbirds the ball at their own 42.

Horne, who ran for 61 yards on nine carries and two scores in the first half, admitted that being a two-way starter puts added wear-and-tear on the body. “It gets a little tiring, but I’ve been getting used to it,” he said.

Winkers installed freshman linebacker Breylin Goebel at running back. The 5-5, 160-pound back had seen just a handful of carries before the Platteville game, focusing much of his energy on the defensive side of the ball. Already with an interception and several big tackles in the game, Goebel jumped at the chance to show off his skills on offense.

“He’s a stud. He’s one of those dudes that puts in as much time as anyone. The moment is not too big for him because he puts in the time,” Winkers said. “He’s a worker, and you can never have enough kids like Breylin.”

On his first carry after the Hillmen punt, Goebel nearly broke free from an ankle tackle and picked up eight yards. On the next play he made sure nobody could catch him before he reached the goal line from 50 yards out for his first varsity score.

“That was amazing. Credit to the line for doing their job — I just had to break one tackle and it was clear sailing from there,” Goebel said.

Goebel doesn’t have an older brother that’s played on the team before, but grew up watching the Redbirds and the seemingly year-after-year trips to the state championship at Camp Randall Stadium. He said he’s been preparing for years to be ready to step on the field when the opportunity arises — and so far, he has.

“I’ve just been consistently working every day — lifting, getting in the weight room and then other things at home to really improve my game,” Goebel said. “I have a lot of motivation. I just want to get back up there (Madison) and hopefully we’ll do that, too. I’m looking forward to the next three years and seeing where this program can go — hopefully back to state.”

The touchdown — and Crist’s PAT, the team’s first of the game — made it 43-7 and induced the mercy rule running clock.

Darlington made it 50-points in a row with 9:43 left in regulation when Parker Fitzsimons scored on a 39-yard run. Platteville’s first-string offense added one final score with 7:31 left against Darlington’s second-teamers.

Davis finished the night 7 of 9 passing for 173 yards and two scores, plus another 73 yards and two scores on nine rushing attempts. 

“Braden’s a pretty special kid and I’m glad we’ve got him for another year after this,” Winkers said.

Goebel had 68 yards on the ground on six carries. Lancaster finished with four catches for 86 yards, while Rankin had three catches for 85 yards. 

The Redbirds had 425 yards of offense in the game to Platteville’s 125. The Hillmen had just 45 yards of offense in the second half. Goomey had 80 yards rushing and another 10 receiving for Platteville, while Logan Page had three catches for 29 yards. Derek Digman was 4 of 16 passing for 39 yards and an interception.

“We’re hopefully moving in the right direction here going into playoffs,” Winkers said.

Up next: Aquinas

The Blugolds went 3-3 in the shortened fall season, including a 3-game losing streak to close out the schedule. Aquinas wins came over Viroqua, Mauston and Westby, with losses coming to West Salem, Onalaska and Tomah. 

Senior running back Will Cambio is the team’s biggest threat, carrying the ball 52 times for 354 yards with seven touchdowns in just three games. Calvin Hargrove (41 attempts, 191 yards) and Joe Penchi (33 attempts, 237 yards) also have earned their share of touches on offense. 

Quarterback Jackson Flottmeyer, a sophomore, is 52 of 100 passing for 622 yards and 10 TDs this year with just 4 INTs. His favorite target has been Quinn Miskowski, a junior, who has 13 catches and three scores. 

Davis has 552 yards with eight TDs and just 1 INT on 37 of 62 passing for Darlington. Davis has 54 rushing attempts for 194 yards and four scores as well. Horne’s 363 yards rushing leads the team, with Carter Lancaster (170 yards), Cayden Rankin (118) and Evenstad (117) also eclipsing the century mark. 

In the receiving department, Lancaster’s 20 catches and 283 yards are team highs. He and Rankin (9 catches, 186 yards) each have three touchdowns through the air this year. 

Darlington rival Mineral Point is in another pod with Palmyra-Eagle, Waterloo and Cambridge. The Darlington-Mineral Point game from earlier in the season was canceled due to a localized COVID-19 outbreak, and the placement of the Pointers in another pod was not what the Redbirds had hoped for.

“There’s no state title to go to; we missed out on playing them (Mineral Point). They are 20 minutes away and it’s one of the oldest rivalries in the history of the state of Wisconsin,” Winkers said. “They (Mineral Point), are very, very good, and we want to see if we can beat them.”