DARLINGTON - The road block for the Darlington High School football team in their quest to win the gold ball the past two years has been Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs.
St. Mary's Springs has knocked off the Redbirds in the past two WIAA Division 6 state championship games. This year, the unbeaten clash between top-ranked St. Mary's Springs (12-0) and second-ranked Darlington (12-0) comes in a state semifinal game at 7 p.m. Friday at Waukesha North High School. Darlington, the Division 6 state runner-up the past three years, looks to return to Camp Randall for the fourth straight year and win the gold ball for the first time since 1995. St. Mary's Springs is looking to win its third consecutive state title. The Ledgers have played in the state championship game six of the past seven years.
"It shouldn't take anything to get fired up for this game," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "A trip to state is on the line for both teams. It's an opportunity to get back to state. I don't know if it carries any more significance because of whose name is on the jersey."
The Redbirds beat the Ledgers in the state semifinals in 2013 to end St. Mary's Springs' 39-game winning streak. The Ledgers led by their split back veer-option based offense have had the Redbirds' number the past two years in state championship games.
"This team is battle-tested," Zywicki said of St. Mary's Springs. "Until someone knocks them off they are deserving of that No. 1 ranking. We have to be at our best to be in the game."
Darlington has a stingy defense that has five shutouts and is giving up just 5.5 points per game.
The Ledgers are led by the one-two punch of senior running back Fintan Floyd, who has rushed for 1,550 yards and 22 touchdowns, and Clay Schueffner, who has 903 rushing yards and has 19 TDs. St. Mary's Springs quarterback Blake Bauer for the second straight year has eclipsed 1,400 passing yards. He has passed for 1,655 yards with 13 TDs and four interceptions.
"They run a lot of power and veer option at you," Zywicki said of the Ledgers. "They have a big and physical offensive line. The key is we can't have our defensive linemen get pushed back into our linebackers. We need our linebackers to be able to run free. If our defensive linemen get pushed back into our linebackers it will be a long day."
The Ledgers will challenge the Redbirds' defense to get sucked up close to the line of scrimmage and then look to strike with a long pass.
"They have great athletes on the outside with a lot of size and speed," Zywicki said.
Both Floyd and Schueffner proved to be tough to bottle up in last year's state title game. Schueffner rushed for 233 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Redbirds in the state championship game and Floyd had 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The Redbirds have had to come back from deep holes in their past two state championship games against the Ledgers. Two years ago, the Redbirds trailed by 21 points, rallied to tie it and then lost 37-28. Last year, St. Mary's Springs jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Redbirds rallied. When injuries hit the Redbirds, the Ledgers scored 19 unanswered points to win the state title 39-20.
The Redbirds were short-handed in the state title game last year after Hunter Johnson suffered a broken leg and linebacker/quarterback Jared Meister had a leg injury, running back Trevor Johnson and linebacker/offensive lineman Jesse Sturtz also were injured.
The Redbirds again face an injury situation. Darlington senior tight end/linebacker Hayden Hardyman suffered a a leg injury against Pecatonica-Argyle, and Sturtz is also dealing with an injury.
"I'm not sure how healthy we will be going into the game," Zywicki said.
The Redbirds may move senior offensive tackle Chad Golackson to tight end.
"If we have any more injuries on the line or at linebacker we have one more guy who can sub in for anyone," Zywicki said.
The Redbirds have a high-powered offense that averages 56.7 points and 334 rushing yards per game. Darlington senior running back Hunter Johnson after setting school records for rushing yards (2,365) and touchdowns last season (46), has turned in another amazing season. Johnson has rushed for 2,009 yards and scored 40 TDs. He's averaging 167 rushing yards per game and 14.8 yards per carry. Hunter's cousin, senior Trevor Johnson, has rushed for 1,051 yards with 17 TDs and is the team's leading receiver with 12 receptions for 318 yards and five TDs.
"We knew we would be a very solid offensive team this year," Zywicki said. "You never expect to score 50 points per game."
The Redbirds have returned four interceptions for touchdowns this season.
Zywicki doesn't see any advantage in having played against the Ledgers' offensive and defensive systems the past three years.
"I don't know how much that helped us do anything because they scored more than 30 points against us the last two times we have played," he said.
Zywicki is proud to see the Redbirds still in contention for a fourth straight trip to the state championship game.
"It's what you strive for - consistency," he said. "You want to be a consistent winner. Not a loser. The kids have done what they needed to do in the offseason and the summer in the weight room to be successful."
St. Mary's Springs has knocked off the Redbirds in the past two WIAA Division 6 state championship games. This year, the unbeaten clash between top-ranked St. Mary's Springs (12-0) and second-ranked Darlington (12-0) comes in a state semifinal game at 7 p.m. Friday at Waukesha North High School. Darlington, the Division 6 state runner-up the past three years, looks to return to Camp Randall for the fourth straight year and win the gold ball for the first time since 1995. St. Mary's Springs is looking to win its third consecutive state title. The Ledgers have played in the state championship game six of the past seven years.
"It shouldn't take anything to get fired up for this game," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "A trip to state is on the line for both teams. It's an opportunity to get back to state. I don't know if it carries any more significance because of whose name is on the jersey."
The Redbirds beat the Ledgers in the state semifinals in 2013 to end St. Mary's Springs' 39-game winning streak. The Ledgers led by their split back veer-option based offense have had the Redbirds' number the past two years in state championship games.
"This team is battle-tested," Zywicki said of St. Mary's Springs. "Until someone knocks them off they are deserving of that No. 1 ranking. We have to be at our best to be in the game."
Darlington has a stingy defense that has five shutouts and is giving up just 5.5 points per game.
The Ledgers are led by the one-two punch of senior running back Fintan Floyd, who has rushed for 1,550 yards and 22 touchdowns, and Clay Schueffner, who has 903 rushing yards and has 19 TDs. St. Mary's Springs quarterback Blake Bauer for the second straight year has eclipsed 1,400 passing yards. He has passed for 1,655 yards with 13 TDs and four interceptions.
"They run a lot of power and veer option at you," Zywicki said of the Ledgers. "They have a big and physical offensive line. The key is we can't have our defensive linemen get pushed back into our linebackers. We need our linebackers to be able to run free. If our defensive linemen get pushed back into our linebackers it will be a long day."
The Ledgers will challenge the Redbirds' defense to get sucked up close to the line of scrimmage and then look to strike with a long pass.
"They have great athletes on the outside with a lot of size and speed," Zywicki said.
Both Floyd and Schueffner proved to be tough to bottle up in last year's state title game. Schueffner rushed for 233 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Redbirds in the state championship game and Floyd had 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The Redbirds have had to come back from deep holes in their past two state championship games against the Ledgers. Two years ago, the Redbirds trailed by 21 points, rallied to tie it and then lost 37-28. Last year, St. Mary's Springs jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Redbirds rallied. When injuries hit the Redbirds, the Ledgers scored 19 unanswered points to win the state title 39-20.
The Redbirds were short-handed in the state title game last year after Hunter Johnson suffered a broken leg and linebacker/quarterback Jared Meister had a leg injury, running back Trevor Johnson and linebacker/offensive lineman Jesse Sturtz also were injured.
The Redbirds again face an injury situation. Darlington senior tight end/linebacker Hayden Hardyman suffered a a leg injury against Pecatonica-Argyle, and Sturtz is also dealing with an injury.
"I'm not sure how healthy we will be going into the game," Zywicki said.
The Redbirds may move senior offensive tackle Chad Golackson to tight end.
"If we have any more injuries on the line or at linebacker we have one more guy who can sub in for anyone," Zywicki said.
The Redbirds have a high-powered offense that averages 56.7 points and 334 rushing yards per game. Darlington senior running back Hunter Johnson after setting school records for rushing yards (2,365) and touchdowns last season (46), has turned in another amazing season. Johnson has rushed for 2,009 yards and scored 40 TDs. He's averaging 167 rushing yards per game and 14.8 yards per carry. Hunter's cousin, senior Trevor Johnson, has rushed for 1,051 yards with 17 TDs and is the team's leading receiver with 12 receptions for 318 yards and five TDs.
"We knew we would be a very solid offensive team this year," Zywicki said. "You never expect to score 50 points per game."
The Redbirds have returned four interceptions for touchdowns this season.
Zywicki doesn't see any advantage in having played against the Ledgers' offensive and defensive systems the past three years.
"I don't know how much that helped us do anything because they scored more than 30 points against us the last two times we have played," he said.
Zywicki is proud to see the Redbirds still in contention for a fourth straight trip to the state championship game.
"It's what you strive for - consistency," he said. "You want to be a consistent winner. Not a loser. The kids have done what they needed to do in the offseason and the summer in the weight room to be successful."
