DARLINGTON - The Redbirds' running attack was Pardeeville's worst nightmare Saturday.
Sophomore fullback Seth Rowe and senior running back Dan Hammer gashed the Pardeeville defense for 214 combined rushing yards to power Darlington to a 34-14 win over the Bulldogs in a WIAA Division 5 Level 2 playoff game.
"We knew today was going to be our last home game," Hammer said. "We wanted to make it a memorable one and just take it to them."
Darlington (10-1) opened the game with a 10-play, 63-yard drive culminating in Tucker Wiegel's 6-yard TD run. The Redbirds did all of their damage on the ground and racked up 340 total rushing yards.
"When our kids execute their blocks the way they are supposed to, we are a tough team to beat," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "Our kids did a great job of moving their defensive line off the ball. We have so many people who can carry the ball. It's tough to key on one running back."
Rowe rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries and Hammer added 104 rushing yards on 16 carries. Darlington juniors Alex Erickson and Wiegel each scored two touchdowns to lead the Redbirds.
"I would love to thank the line for my great holes," Rowe said. "We were going to run the ball a lot."
Zywicki considers it a blessing to have a back-up fullback like Rowe who has started since senior Aaron Stauffacher is being used only on defense after suffering injuries earlier in the year.
"Seth is a kid beyond his years as a sophomore," Zywicki said. "He worked his butt off in the weight room. He is one of the most physical sophomores we have had. You better wrap him up because he will lay a lick on you."
The only thing that went awry for the Redbirds in the first half was a botched punt. With a fourth-and-5 from the 45-yard line of the Bulldogs, the Redbirds snapped the ball to an upback who pitched back to the punter and the Bulldogs blocked the punt. The block led to the Bulldogs first scoring drive. Seven plays later, Pardeeville's Jordan Genrich scored on a 1-yard TD plunge to tie the game at 7 with 10 minutes, 38 seconds to go in the second quarter.
Zywicki said the Redbirds originally had a fake punt called, but called the fake off.
"It didn't get communicated to our center," Zywicki said. "It was just a miscommunication. We still could have faked it because they didn't cover our slot receiver."
The Redbirds answered with another long drive of 10-plays, 65-yards, which was capped off with Erickson's 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown to give the Redbirds a 14-7 lead with 6:18 left in the second quarter. The drive was highlighted by Wiegel's 22-yard run.
Erickson completed three of four passes for 58 yards and he scored his second touchdown on a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter after breaking a tackle.
"My job was easy today," Erickson said. "The line did a great job, the backs hit the holes and we got great gains on the ground. We had great success on the ground. It worked for us and the scoreboard showed."
The big momentum shift in the first half came on the Redbirds' three minute drive right before halftime. Erickson scrambled for 19-yards and the Bulldogs were called for a personal foul after tackling him into the Darlington bench. That helped kick-start a scoring drive that the Redbirds cashed in when Hammer bowled his way in for a 2-yard TD run.
The drive was highlighted by Erickson's 26-yard pass to senior Trynton Schwartz on fourth-and-9.
The Redbirds sealed the victory with a 13-play, 74-yard drive at the start of the third quarter with a 6-yard TD run by Wiegel.
Darlington advances to the Division 5 Level 3 playoffs where they will play at Lancaster Friday, Nov. 6 or Saturday, Nov. 7.
Sophomore fullback Seth Rowe and senior running back Dan Hammer gashed the Pardeeville defense for 214 combined rushing yards to power Darlington to a 34-14 win over the Bulldogs in a WIAA Division 5 Level 2 playoff game.
"We knew today was going to be our last home game," Hammer said. "We wanted to make it a memorable one and just take it to them."
Darlington (10-1) opened the game with a 10-play, 63-yard drive culminating in Tucker Wiegel's 6-yard TD run. The Redbirds did all of their damage on the ground and racked up 340 total rushing yards.
"When our kids execute their blocks the way they are supposed to, we are a tough team to beat," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "Our kids did a great job of moving their defensive line off the ball. We have so many people who can carry the ball. It's tough to key on one running back."
Rowe rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries and Hammer added 104 rushing yards on 16 carries. Darlington juniors Alex Erickson and Wiegel each scored two touchdowns to lead the Redbirds.
"I would love to thank the line for my great holes," Rowe said. "We were going to run the ball a lot."
Zywicki considers it a blessing to have a back-up fullback like Rowe who has started since senior Aaron Stauffacher is being used only on defense after suffering injuries earlier in the year.
"Seth is a kid beyond his years as a sophomore," Zywicki said. "He worked his butt off in the weight room. He is one of the most physical sophomores we have had. You better wrap him up because he will lay a lick on you."
The only thing that went awry for the Redbirds in the first half was a botched punt. With a fourth-and-5 from the 45-yard line of the Bulldogs, the Redbirds snapped the ball to an upback who pitched back to the punter and the Bulldogs blocked the punt. The block led to the Bulldogs first scoring drive. Seven plays later, Pardeeville's Jordan Genrich scored on a 1-yard TD plunge to tie the game at 7 with 10 minutes, 38 seconds to go in the second quarter.
Zywicki said the Redbirds originally had a fake punt called, but called the fake off.
"It didn't get communicated to our center," Zywicki said. "It was just a miscommunication. We still could have faked it because they didn't cover our slot receiver."
The Redbirds answered with another long drive of 10-plays, 65-yards, which was capped off with Erickson's 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown to give the Redbirds a 14-7 lead with 6:18 left in the second quarter. The drive was highlighted by Wiegel's 22-yard run.
Erickson completed three of four passes for 58 yards and he scored his second touchdown on a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter after breaking a tackle.
"My job was easy today," Erickson said. "The line did a great job, the backs hit the holes and we got great gains on the ground. We had great success on the ground. It worked for us and the scoreboard showed."
The big momentum shift in the first half came on the Redbirds' three minute drive right before halftime. Erickson scrambled for 19-yards and the Bulldogs were called for a personal foul after tackling him into the Darlington bench. That helped kick-start a scoring drive that the Redbirds cashed in when Hammer bowled his way in for a 2-yard TD run.
The drive was highlighted by Erickson's 26-yard pass to senior Trynton Schwartz on fourth-and-9.
The Redbirds sealed the victory with a 13-play, 74-yard drive at the start of the third quarter with a 6-yard TD run by Wiegel.
Darlington advances to the Division 5 Level 3 playoffs where they will play at Lancaster Friday, Nov. 6 or Saturday, Nov. 7.
