DARLINGTON - Senior fullback Myles Leahy couldn't have scripted a better start to Darlington's 54-13 win over Mineral Point in a WIAA Division 6 Level 2 playoff game Saturday.
Darlington (10-1) scored touchdowns on its first seven drives en route to opening up a 48-0 lead at the half. Leahy rushed for 189 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns. The Redbirds gashed the Pointers rolling up 442 total rushing yards. Darlington sophomore Hunter Johnson rushed for 95 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns and caught a 43-yard TD pass.
How demoralizing is that for a defense?
"It's not fun watching," Leahy said. "I know I have never been on the other end of something like that before. It's been fun on offense to get the ball back and break a couple of runs. It's never easy to beat a team twice. We came out a lot better than the first time we played. A lot of our success is because of the line."
With the win, Darlington (10-1) advances to the Division 6 state quarterfinals where they will host Lake Country Lutheran at Martens Field on Saturday.
"Our kids came out ready to play," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "You can tell when our offense is clicking because we are so multi-dimensional. We can run it inside with Myles and outside with Jason (Singer) or Hunter and they have the ability to take it the distance."
The Redbirds capped a four-play, 51-yard drive with Leahy's 11-yard TD run. Leahy ran in the two-point conversion to give the Redbirds an 8-0 lead. Darlington senior Dane Siegenthaler came up with a clutch interception to set up the next score. One play later, Leahy rammed in for a 3-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 15-0 lead.
Midway through the first quarter, the Redbirds' 10-play, 81-yard drive culminated with senior quarterback Cole McDonald's 5-yard TD run.
The Redbirds then cashed in on a seven-play, 92-yard drive with Leahy scoring on an 8-yard run to give the Redbirds a 28-0 lead about midway through the second quarter. After a short punt by the Pointers, the Redbirds took advantage of the golden scoring opportunity at the Pointers' 38-yard line. Johnson had a 5-yard TD run. The big play of the drive was senior Jason Singer's 30-yard run. Johnson late in the second quarter bolted for a 58-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 42-0 lead. McDonald then hooked up with Johnson on a 43-yard TD pass that included Singer throwing a leveling block to put the game away.
McDonald completed 1-of-2 passes for 43 yards and one touchdown.
"It's a lot easier for me when those cornerbacks keep coming up to the line," McDonald said.
The Redbirds' defense was just as impressive as the offense forcing three turnovers - two interceptions, one each by Siegenthaler and McDonald and one fumble. Leahy finished with one sack and senior Brett Erickson and Cole Whalen each had one-half of a sack. In two playoff games, the Redbirds have forced 10 turnovers.
Mineral Point quarterback Scott Pittz entered the game as the state's fourth leading passer with 2,523 yards. The Redbirds shut down the passing game by bringing an extra blitzer and rushing five against the Pointers' five blockers. Pittz was just 11 of 33 passing for 176 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The Pointers ran the ball just twice in the first half.
"Andy (Palzkill) did what he thought would give them the best chance to win," Zywicki said. "Their quarterback took a lot of hits, their timing gets off and he started releasing the ball earlier. We made them one-dimensional."
McDonald made an acrobatic interception on a pass intended for 6-3 Mineral Point senior wide receiver Tarek Ollerich.
"Tarek is a good wide receiver," McDonald said. "I knew I had to get a good jump on the ball. Every day in practice coach Zywicki stresses turnovers. One person holds up the ball carrier, the other one goes and tries to rip it out."
Darlington (10-1) scored touchdowns on its first seven drives en route to opening up a 48-0 lead at the half. Leahy rushed for 189 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns. The Redbirds gashed the Pointers rolling up 442 total rushing yards. Darlington sophomore Hunter Johnson rushed for 95 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns and caught a 43-yard TD pass.
How demoralizing is that for a defense?
"It's not fun watching," Leahy said. "I know I have never been on the other end of something like that before. It's been fun on offense to get the ball back and break a couple of runs. It's never easy to beat a team twice. We came out a lot better than the first time we played. A lot of our success is because of the line."
With the win, Darlington (10-1) advances to the Division 6 state quarterfinals where they will host Lake Country Lutheran at Martens Field on Saturday.
"Our kids came out ready to play," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "You can tell when our offense is clicking because we are so multi-dimensional. We can run it inside with Myles and outside with Jason (Singer) or Hunter and they have the ability to take it the distance."
The Redbirds capped a four-play, 51-yard drive with Leahy's 11-yard TD run. Leahy ran in the two-point conversion to give the Redbirds an 8-0 lead. Darlington senior Dane Siegenthaler came up with a clutch interception to set up the next score. One play later, Leahy rammed in for a 3-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 15-0 lead.
Midway through the first quarter, the Redbirds' 10-play, 81-yard drive culminated with senior quarterback Cole McDonald's 5-yard TD run.
The Redbirds then cashed in on a seven-play, 92-yard drive with Leahy scoring on an 8-yard run to give the Redbirds a 28-0 lead about midway through the second quarter. After a short punt by the Pointers, the Redbirds took advantage of the golden scoring opportunity at the Pointers' 38-yard line. Johnson had a 5-yard TD run. The big play of the drive was senior Jason Singer's 30-yard run. Johnson late in the second quarter bolted for a 58-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 42-0 lead. McDonald then hooked up with Johnson on a 43-yard TD pass that included Singer throwing a leveling block to put the game away.
McDonald completed 1-of-2 passes for 43 yards and one touchdown.
"It's a lot easier for me when those cornerbacks keep coming up to the line," McDonald said.
The Redbirds' defense was just as impressive as the offense forcing three turnovers - two interceptions, one each by Siegenthaler and McDonald and one fumble. Leahy finished with one sack and senior Brett Erickson and Cole Whalen each had one-half of a sack. In two playoff games, the Redbirds have forced 10 turnovers.
Mineral Point quarterback Scott Pittz entered the game as the state's fourth leading passer with 2,523 yards. The Redbirds shut down the passing game by bringing an extra blitzer and rushing five against the Pointers' five blockers. Pittz was just 11 of 33 passing for 176 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The Pointers ran the ball just twice in the first half.
"Andy (Palzkill) did what he thought would give them the best chance to win," Zywicki said. "Their quarterback took a lot of hits, their timing gets off and he started releasing the ball earlier. We made them one-dimensional."
McDonald made an acrobatic interception on a pass intended for 6-3 Mineral Point senior wide receiver Tarek Ollerich.
"Tarek is a good wide receiver," McDonald said. "I knew I had to get a good jump on the ball. Every day in practice coach Zywicki stresses turnovers. One person holds up the ball carrier, the other one goes and tries to rip it out."
