DARLINGTON — The Darlington Redbirds won the SWAL title in 2021 and finished one game away from the state championship in Division 6 with an 11-2 overall record.
After graduating a slew of all-conference players, including the program’s record-holding quarterback, a defensive player of the year and a two-way first-team pick, there are holes in the lineup needing to be filled.
Head coach Travis Winkers thinks he has the players to step up to not only fill those holes, but to lead the team to another deep playoff run.
“We have very high expectations,” Winkers said. “We blew a 24-0 lead in Level 4 last season. We think about that every day and not only getting to Camp Randall but finishing the job too.”
Winkers thinks his defense has a chance to be “really good” this year. It is anchored by junior linebacker Breylin Goebel, who burst onto the scene as a freshman two years ago, earning all-conference honors a season ago, along with fellow LB Carter Murray. Also playing major roles on defense will be Ross, Tye, and Talan Crist, Brady Long, Bryan Lazaro Mendoza, Gage Banfield, Reagan Jackson, Caydn Burbach, Parker Shager, Mason Davis, Maddox Goebel, Connor Larson, Thomas Buschor and Roger Volkening.
On offense, Burbach takes over as QB, with all-conference TE Carver Fitzsimons returning, along with Wyatt Davis, Barrett Vieth and Max McGuire anchoring the offensive line.
McGuire was the SWAL OL of the Year in 2021, plus all-region and honorable mention all-state. “He’s our best returning player at any position,” Winkers said.
Lazaro Mendoza, a senior, didn’t play enough to letter a year ago, but enters this season as the team’s strongest player, according to Winkers. “We are excited for it to click on the field this year,” Winkers said of his big man. “Strength and physicality will be a big strength for us this year. Depth is also going to be a big bonus. With our depth and interchangeable parts, it may take some time in the season to get our personnel in the correct positions to find our best 11 on both sides of the ball. This is a good problem to have though.”
Winkers said Burbach replacing Braden Davis at QB will be a challenge. Davis started 3 1/2 years, running the option and breaking program records held by current NFL WR Alex Erickson. Still, Burbach saw time under center last year, gaining valuable experience in the process.
Winkers also said that replacing the speed of Davis and Easton Evenstad will be tough, but not as tough as finding a vocal leader like Brady Horne carried last fall.
“We are not slow but we are not blazers by any means,” Winkers said. “(And) we need someone to step up and be an emotional leader like Brady Horne was for us. We are missing that role early on in camp.”
Winkers said the SWAL as a whole will be down a bit in overall talent, as many teams graduated much of their top-end talent.
“Everyone loses key pieces every year but we lost much less compared to other schools,” Winkers said.
With Lancaster moving to the SWC, the mix for the standings could be tough. Winkers expects teams beating up on each other, which could mean a high number of playoff eligible programs come October. Belleville should be among the top contenders, as well as Mineral Point and Cuba City. However, all three lost valuable pieces.
