SWAL Standings
Team Record
1. Cuba City 4-0
2. Iowa-Grant 3-1
2. Darlington 3-1
2. Fennimore 3-1
5. Southwestern 2-2
6. Mineral Point 1-3
7. Boscobel 0-4
7. Riverdale 0-4
Note: The Redbirds still have games against Southwestern and Fennimore.
DARLINGTON - Both the Darlington and Cuba City football programs have served as the gold standard when it comes to the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League the last decade.
Darlington (3-2, 3-1 SWAL) is gearing up for a Friday night road showdown with Cuba City (5-0, 4-0), which is ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press small school poll. If Darlington can knock off Cuba City, the Redbirds can force a potential four-way tie atop the SWAL along with Iowa-Grant and Fennimore.
"If we win, we still control our own destiny," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "That's all you can ask for as a coach."
Darlington and Cuba City have dominated the SWAL the last decade. The Redbirds and Cubans have won seven conference titles between them in the last 10 years, and Darlington has won three straight titles. The Redbirds had a 19-game conference winning streak snapped earlier this season after a 12-6 loss to Iowa-Grant.
"I don't think kids look back that far," said Zywicki. "Kids don't live in the past. It's great for our tradition. I think they want to make their own legacy. They want to be thought of as one of those great teams."
Zywicki has been ill and hasn't been at practice this week, but he expects to be cleared to coach Friday night.
"They said I won't be contagious by Friday night," he said. "I gave the assistant coaches the defensive game plan. I think they will do an outstanding job."
The Cubans have a high-powered offense that is averaging 38.2 points per game. Cuba City senior running back Brandon Slaats has rushed for 404 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Cuba City senior quarterback Kyle Frederick has passed for 390 yards and eight touchdowns, but he is also dangerous as a runner having scored nine rushing touchdowns this season.
"We can't let them get outside," Zywicki said. "They have outstanding speed. If they hit the corner, we will be in trouble. I think we will have to funnel them inside to the tackles."
The Darlington defense has posted three shutouts and is giving up just 11.4 points per game. However, the Redbirds gave up several big passing plays in the second half in a win against Mineral Point last week.
"I think our run defense has been outstanding," Zywicki said. "Defensively, our one main area of concern is the secondary. The secondary is doing a great job in run support. Their main job is to make sure we don't give up big passing plays."
On offense, the Redbirds have relied on several young playmakers. Sophomore Myles Leahy was a third string fullback to start the season. With early season injuries to senior Dylan Nyffenegger (strained calf) and Kane Loken (broken ankle), Leahy stepped into a starting role and hasn't looked back. Leahy, at 200 pounds, has rushed for 288 yards and scored four touchdowns.
"He's naturally strong," Zywicki said of Leahy. "He's all-out effort all the time. He has stepped up. He has run harder and stronger each game as he gets more confidence running behind the line."
Senior Storm Wiegel leads the Redbirds in rushing (473 yards), and sophomore quarterback Cole McDonald has passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
With Wiegel and Leahy performing the way they are, Zywicki said the Redbirds now have the luxury of just using Nyffenegger and Loken as one-way starters on defense.
With several new young starters, Zywicki was looking to be in the hunt for a fourth straight conference title at the start of the season.
"I had certain expectations and was hoping we would compete for a conference championship," he said. "We have that opportunity now. Our destiny is in our hands."
Darlington (3-2, 3-1 SWAL) is gearing up for a Friday night road showdown with Cuba City (5-0, 4-0), which is ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press small school poll. If Darlington can knock off Cuba City, the Redbirds can force a potential four-way tie atop the SWAL along with Iowa-Grant and Fennimore.
"If we win, we still control our own destiny," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "That's all you can ask for as a coach."
Darlington and Cuba City have dominated the SWAL the last decade. The Redbirds and Cubans have won seven conference titles between them in the last 10 years, and Darlington has won three straight titles. The Redbirds had a 19-game conference winning streak snapped earlier this season after a 12-6 loss to Iowa-Grant.
"I don't think kids look back that far," said Zywicki. "Kids don't live in the past. It's great for our tradition. I think they want to make their own legacy. They want to be thought of as one of those great teams."
Zywicki has been ill and hasn't been at practice this week, but he expects to be cleared to coach Friday night.
"They said I won't be contagious by Friday night," he said. "I gave the assistant coaches the defensive game plan. I think they will do an outstanding job."
The Cubans have a high-powered offense that is averaging 38.2 points per game. Cuba City senior running back Brandon Slaats has rushed for 404 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Cuba City senior quarterback Kyle Frederick has passed for 390 yards and eight touchdowns, but he is also dangerous as a runner having scored nine rushing touchdowns this season.
"We can't let them get outside," Zywicki said. "They have outstanding speed. If they hit the corner, we will be in trouble. I think we will have to funnel them inside to the tackles."
The Darlington defense has posted three shutouts and is giving up just 11.4 points per game. However, the Redbirds gave up several big passing plays in the second half in a win against Mineral Point last week.
"I think our run defense has been outstanding," Zywicki said. "Defensively, our one main area of concern is the secondary. The secondary is doing a great job in run support. Their main job is to make sure we don't give up big passing plays."
On offense, the Redbirds have relied on several young playmakers. Sophomore Myles Leahy was a third string fullback to start the season. With early season injuries to senior Dylan Nyffenegger (strained calf) and Kane Loken (broken ankle), Leahy stepped into a starting role and hasn't looked back. Leahy, at 200 pounds, has rushed for 288 yards and scored four touchdowns.
"He's naturally strong," Zywicki said of Leahy. "He's all-out effort all the time. He has stepped up. He has run harder and stronger each game as he gets more confidence running behind the line."
Senior Storm Wiegel leads the Redbirds in rushing (473 yards), and sophomore quarterback Cole McDonald has passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
With Wiegel and Leahy performing the way they are, Zywicki said the Redbirds now have the luxury of just using Nyffenegger and Loken as one-way starters on defense.
With several new young starters, Zywicki was looking to be in the hunt for a fourth straight conference title at the start of the season.
"I had certain expectations and was hoping we would compete for a conference championship," he said. "We have that opportunity now. Our destiny is in our hands."
