DARLINGTON - Injuries are a part of football and when Darlington senior Storm Wiegel suffered a torn ACL, the team's depth was tested.
Darlington sophomore Jason Singer, who had served as the starting running back for JV and a kicker for varsity early in the season, got his chance. Singer, along with junior Tanner Wiegel and fullback Myles Leahy, have stepped up in the playoffs.
And even though Storm Wiegel won't be in the huddle when the Redbirds play at conference rival Iowa-Grant in the WIAA Division 6 state quarterfinals on Saturday, he will have the attention of his younger running back teammates as a coach on the sidelines.
"He's a great leader," Singer said of Storm Wiegel. "When he was playing, everyone looked up to him and they still look up to him. Whenever I have a question about plays, I go to him because he knows all the plays. He gives a lot of motivational speeches."
Darlington (6-4) upset Deerfield 21-20 in the first round of the playoffs and then knocked off Necedah 17-7 in the Level 2 playoffs.
"We are the No. 8 seed," said Singer, who has 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the last three games. "No one expected us to do anything especially after losing to Fennimore. We have just come out and played harder and more physical. Hopefully, we can keep it going against Iowa-Grant."
Darlington lost the regular season finale to Fennimore 27-0, but has cut down on the turnovers in the playoffs and is in the state quarterfinals for the third time in the last four years.
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki understands why some teams may have doubted the Redbirds before the playoffs and may be surprised by the team's postseason run.
"It's a natural reaction when people see the record and they say 'why not'," he said. "The film against Fennimore doesn't lie."
The Redbirds aren't the only team that was dealt a blow with an injury. Iowa-Grant starting quarterback T.J. Anderson suffered a season-ending injury in a 12-6 win over the Redbirds Sept. 7 and Iowa-Grant running back Derek Peat was moved to quarterback.
Iowa-Grant (8-2) runs a multiple formation offense that includes wing-T and I-formation sets that feature more designed quarterback runs. Peat has rushed for 1,072 yards and 18 TDs for an offense that averages 32.6 points per game. The Panthers' offense features a tackle at 290 pounds and another tackle at 280 and a center at 250 that lead the way for an offense that averages 185 rushing yards per game.
"They have more designed runs for the quarterback than the first time we played them," Zywicki said. "It's not that he (Peat) can't pass. They just haven't had to. We want to force them into some third-and-long situations."
The Redbirds' defense is giving up just 14.7 points per game and has been tough against the run in the playoffs.
"We will have to defeat blocks and win the one-on-one battles," Zywicki said. "We will have to read our keys (usually the guards) and attack. If you wait and let a 290 pound guy get on you, we will be in trouble."
Darlington sophomore quarterback Cole McDonald has passed for 760 yards and five TDs and he has rushed for four TDs. However, his biggest improvement may be in taking what the defense gives him and not forcing a pass. Leahy is the Redbirds' leading rusher (650 yards and eight TDs).
Zywicki said McDonald is playing his best of the season.
"I think he has got a lot faster with his reads and decision making the last few weeks," he said. "I think his decision making has been much better and he is giving our kids a chance to make plays."
Darlington sophomore Jason Singer, who had served as the starting running back for JV and a kicker for varsity early in the season, got his chance. Singer, along with junior Tanner Wiegel and fullback Myles Leahy, have stepped up in the playoffs.
And even though Storm Wiegel won't be in the huddle when the Redbirds play at conference rival Iowa-Grant in the WIAA Division 6 state quarterfinals on Saturday, he will have the attention of his younger running back teammates as a coach on the sidelines.
"He's a great leader," Singer said of Storm Wiegel. "When he was playing, everyone looked up to him and they still look up to him. Whenever I have a question about plays, I go to him because he knows all the plays. He gives a lot of motivational speeches."
Darlington (6-4) upset Deerfield 21-20 in the first round of the playoffs and then knocked off Necedah 17-7 in the Level 2 playoffs.
"We are the No. 8 seed," said Singer, who has 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the last three games. "No one expected us to do anything especially after losing to Fennimore. We have just come out and played harder and more physical. Hopefully, we can keep it going against Iowa-Grant."
Darlington lost the regular season finale to Fennimore 27-0, but has cut down on the turnovers in the playoffs and is in the state quarterfinals for the third time in the last four years.
Darlington coach Scott Zywicki understands why some teams may have doubted the Redbirds before the playoffs and may be surprised by the team's postseason run.
"It's a natural reaction when people see the record and they say 'why not'," he said. "The film against Fennimore doesn't lie."
The Redbirds aren't the only team that was dealt a blow with an injury. Iowa-Grant starting quarterback T.J. Anderson suffered a season-ending injury in a 12-6 win over the Redbirds Sept. 7 and Iowa-Grant running back Derek Peat was moved to quarterback.
Iowa-Grant (8-2) runs a multiple formation offense that includes wing-T and I-formation sets that feature more designed quarterback runs. Peat has rushed for 1,072 yards and 18 TDs for an offense that averages 32.6 points per game. The Panthers' offense features a tackle at 290 pounds and another tackle at 280 and a center at 250 that lead the way for an offense that averages 185 rushing yards per game.
"They have more designed runs for the quarterback than the first time we played them," Zywicki said. "It's not that he (Peat) can't pass. They just haven't had to. We want to force them into some third-and-long situations."
The Redbirds' defense is giving up just 14.7 points per game and has been tough against the run in the playoffs.
"We will have to defeat blocks and win the one-on-one battles," Zywicki said. "We will have to read our keys (usually the guards) and attack. If you wait and let a 290 pound guy get on you, we will be in trouble."
Darlington sophomore quarterback Cole McDonald has passed for 760 yards and five TDs and he has rushed for four TDs. However, his biggest improvement may be in taking what the defense gives him and not forcing a pass. Leahy is the Redbirds' leading rusher (650 yards and eight TDs).
Zywicki said McDonald is playing his best of the season.
"I think he has got a lot faster with his reads and decision making the last few weeks," he said. "I think his decision making has been much better and he is giving our kids a chance to make plays."
