DARLINGTON - The Darlington football team earned a little redemption from its loss to Cuba City back on Sept. 25, knocking off previously unbeaten SWAL rival Iowa-Grant, 26-7, Friday afternoon, creating a three-way tie atop the standings.
"It is very gratifying," Redbirds coach Scott Zywicki said. "This class has stuck true to our program. They work so hard and we have more seniors out than other years. They care for each other and it's wonderful to see them work so hard together."
Entering the game, Iowa-Grant (6-2, 5-1) was the lone team atop the SWAL standings, with Darlington (7-1, 5-1) and Cuba City (5-3, 5-1) just one game back. Today, the three teams are tied.
"Everybody seemed to step up a little bit today," Zywicki said. "It was a very solid day offensively and defensively."
Darlington opened the game on defense, and quickly forced the Panthers to punt. Moments later, Zywicki had his team rumbling down the field. On third-and-four from the Panthers' 27 yard line, quarterback Alex Erickson sent a pass toward the end zone, where a Panther deflected the ball into the hands of Tucker Wiegel for a touchdown, just 4 minutes, 55 seconds into the first quarter.
"In high school football momentum is everything," Zywicki said. "You want to be playing from the front if at all possible."
The Redbirds' defensive line continued the pressure on the other end. Darlington's front four forced three fumbles, sacked Iowa-Grant quarterback Cole Solomon five times, and held the Panthers below their season averages in rushing, passing and points.
"This is the kind of defense we've been wanting to play all year. The pressure on the quarterback kept him from making a lot of big plays," Zywicki said.
Darlington squandered two golden opportunities to increase its lead. Driving inside Iowa-Grant's 30-yard-line, Wiegel coughed up the football after reaching for a first down. As soon as the Redbirds turned the ball over on defense, Seth Rowe, filling in for fullback Aaron Stauffacher, who re-injured his foot, fumbled at the Panthers' 3.
Fortunately for the Redbirds, Wiegel redeemed himself. Quarterback Alex Erickson returned a punt 41 yards with just under six minutes remaining in the half and on the first play of Darlington's fifth possession, Wiegel took a counter up the left side 24 yards for a score.
"I knew my team needed me, so I stepped up and did whatever I could," Wiegel said.
In the third quarter, Iowa-Grant switched to a running attack. Marcus Boothe, a 5-foot, 7-inch zig-zag runner with explosive speed, dashed for 34 yards midway through the third to set up a first-and-goal. Boothe finished with 103 rushing yards, and also had a 55-yard run down the sideline negated by a holding penalty later in the third quarter.
Solomon scored Iowa-Grant's only touchdown with 4:45 left in the third, trimming the score to 14-7.
Zywicki then turned to Erickson to put Darlington back up by two scores.
Wiegel took the kick return 54 yards, putting the Redbirds at the Iowa-Grant 34. Erickson kept the ball for the next six snaps, scoring on a fourth-and-inches.
"I got my number called. The line did a great job and I just found the holes. We knew we could do it, and I'm just glad we could punch it in," Erickson said.
Iowa-Grant then went on a 13-play drive, nine starting inside Darlington's 20-yard line. The Redbirds knocked away a pass on third-and-goal from the 20 in the end zone, but Erickson was called for pass interference. Three plays later, Jason Boll intercepted a pass in the end zone.
"That was a momentum booster for us. We were back on our heels a little bit," Zywicki said.
Starting from his own 20, Erickson took the second snap 80 yards untouched on a QB draw for the game's final score. The junior QB continued his impressive day by picking off a Solomon pass with 4:25 left, sealing the victory.
"Alex is a phenomenal athlete. If you give him an opportunity he can take over a game by himself," Zywicki said.
Erickson ran for 115 yards, all in the second half, and threw for another 59 yards. Wiegel had 108 total yards, including 49 on the ground. Stauffacher had 59 yards on 10 carries before getting knocked out of the game.
Darlington next hosts Riverdale on Thursday, Oct. 22. A win guarantees the Redbirds at least a share of the conference title. Erickson said the team's very confident.
"We're tough. We're tough kids that play physical and give it 110 percent every play and make stuff happen," he said.
"It is very gratifying," Redbirds coach Scott Zywicki said. "This class has stuck true to our program. They work so hard and we have more seniors out than other years. They care for each other and it's wonderful to see them work so hard together."
Entering the game, Iowa-Grant (6-2, 5-1) was the lone team atop the SWAL standings, with Darlington (7-1, 5-1) and Cuba City (5-3, 5-1) just one game back. Today, the three teams are tied.
"Everybody seemed to step up a little bit today," Zywicki said. "It was a very solid day offensively and defensively."
Darlington opened the game on defense, and quickly forced the Panthers to punt. Moments later, Zywicki had his team rumbling down the field. On third-and-four from the Panthers' 27 yard line, quarterback Alex Erickson sent a pass toward the end zone, where a Panther deflected the ball into the hands of Tucker Wiegel for a touchdown, just 4 minutes, 55 seconds into the first quarter.
"In high school football momentum is everything," Zywicki said. "You want to be playing from the front if at all possible."
The Redbirds' defensive line continued the pressure on the other end. Darlington's front four forced three fumbles, sacked Iowa-Grant quarterback Cole Solomon five times, and held the Panthers below their season averages in rushing, passing and points.
"This is the kind of defense we've been wanting to play all year. The pressure on the quarterback kept him from making a lot of big plays," Zywicki said.
Darlington squandered two golden opportunities to increase its lead. Driving inside Iowa-Grant's 30-yard-line, Wiegel coughed up the football after reaching for a first down. As soon as the Redbirds turned the ball over on defense, Seth Rowe, filling in for fullback Aaron Stauffacher, who re-injured his foot, fumbled at the Panthers' 3.
Fortunately for the Redbirds, Wiegel redeemed himself. Quarterback Alex Erickson returned a punt 41 yards with just under six minutes remaining in the half and on the first play of Darlington's fifth possession, Wiegel took a counter up the left side 24 yards for a score.
"I knew my team needed me, so I stepped up and did whatever I could," Wiegel said.
In the third quarter, Iowa-Grant switched to a running attack. Marcus Boothe, a 5-foot, 7-inch zig-zag runner with explosive speed, dashed for 34 yards midway through the third to set up a first-and-goal. Boothe finished with 103 rushing yards, and also had a 55-yard run down the sideline negated by a holding penalty later in the third quarter.
Solomon scored Iowa-Grant's only touchdown with 4:45 left in the third, trimming the score to 14-7.
Zywicki then turned to Erickson to put Darlington back up by two scores.
Wiegel took the kick return 54 yards, putting the Redbirds at the Iowa-Grant 34. Erickson kept the ball for the next six snaps, scoring on a fourth-and-inches.
"I got my number called. The line did a great job and I just found the holes. We knew we could do it, and I'm just glad we could punch it in," Erickson said.
Iowa-Grant then went on a 13-play drive, nine starting inside Darlington's 20-yard line. The Redbirds knocked away a pass on third-and-goal from the 20 in the end zone, but Erickson was called for pass interference. Three plays later, Jason Boll intercepted a pass in the end zone.
"That was a momentum booster for us. We were back on our heels a little bit," Zywicki said.
Starting from his own 20, Erickson took the second snap 80 yards untouched on a QB draw for the game's final score. The junior QB continued his impressive day by picking off a Solomon pass with 4:25 left, sealing the victory.
"Alex is a phenomenal athlete. If you give him an opportunity he can take over a game by himself," Zywicki said.
Erickson ran for 115 yards, all in the second half, and threw for another 59 yards. Wiegel had 108 total yards, including 49 on the ground. Stauffacher had 59 yards on 10 carries before getting knocked out of the game.
Darlington next hosts Riverdale on Thursday, Oct. 22. A win guarantees the Redbirds at least a share of the conference title. Erickson said the team's very confident.
"We're tough. We're tough kids that play physical and give it 110 percent every play and make stuff happen," he said.
