Students recognize fall local hero
Darlington High School students, in a plan by the student council in conjunction with homecoming, had a coin war and raised $1,500 for the Veterans Memorial in Darlington in honor of Sergeant Jakob J. Roelli, 24, who died Sept. 21 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
Roelli was serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. A full Military Honors funeral service will be Saturday, Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 15691 County Road K in Darlington. Burial will be in Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington. A visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 7 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church and on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
DARLINGTON - Quarterback Zach McArthur knew the doubters were out there that didn't believe in the Redbirds.
Darlington is turning many more football fans into believers after surviving a desperation fourth down passing play with less than 30 seconds to go to stun undefeated Cuba City 15-7 Friday at Martens Field.
"We were doubted big time in the SWAL this year," McArthur said after a critical homecoming win against the Cubans, who were ranked ninth in the Small Schools Associated Press state poll. "We lost some great players in Alex (Erickson) and Tucker (Wiegel). No one thought we could win it. We came out here and won the game."
Cuba City quarterback Kyle Frederick helped rally the Cubans from a 15-0 deficit in the fourth quarter with a 31-yard TD pass to Jeff Meckstroth with 3 minutes, 24 seconds left. The Cubans then recovered an onside kick. The Cubans' last chance with about 30 seconds to go came on fourth-and-14, and Frederick's 13-yard pass to Jacob Timmerman came up just a foot short of a first down and the Redbirds survived.
"I know Tyler was disappointed he didn't recover that onside kick," McArthur said. "We came together and we made some plays and he (Tyler) made some plays. We came back and got it done."
With the win, Darlington (5-2, 5-0 SWAL) is in the driver's seat for its third straight SWAL title. The Redbirds extended their conference winning streak to 16 games.
"You start feeling deflated knowing it may end up in overtime," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said of the fourth down play. "You worry about the psyche of the kids. We were fortunate to get him down before the yard sticks."
It's a huge win for the Redbirds. When asked if this was the defining moment for the Redbirds, Zywicki was adamant.
"I don't think this was our defining moment," Zywicki said. "It was a signature win for us. Hopefully, it's not our defining moment. If we go on and lose next week, this game against Cuba City won't matter because we will be tied. I hope our kids don't want to end up sharing the conference."
Early on, the Redbirds dominated the first half. Darlington capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive when senior Seth Rowe barreled in for a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter. Mitchell Whalen raced in for a two-point conversion after a bad snap on the extra point to give the Redbirds an 8-0 lead. The big plays of the drive included McArthur's 23-yard hook and lateral pass to Storm Wiegel, who flipped it to Whalen. Rowe also converted a key fourth-and-2 with a 2-yard run to keep the drive alive.
The Redbirds' defense set the tone early by shutting down the Cubans power running and option attack. Darlington forced three turnovers in the first half (two fumbles and one interception) and the Cubans didn't have a first down until midway through the second quarter. Darlington sophomore A.J. Brandt recovered a fumbled pitch at the Cubans' 12-yard line. Two plays later, Whalen raced in for a 6-yard TD run with 8:01 left in the second quarter to make it 15-0.
The Cubans drove down to the Redbirds' 11-yard line late in the second quarter, but Levi Wedig's interception thwarted the threat. After giving up 99 points in their first two games against Platteville and Brodhead-Juda, the Redbirds' defense has stiffened and got consistent pressure from sophomore defensive end Michael Ruf.
"Our kids have got better," Zywicki said of the defense. "They are starting to get comfortable in their roles and understand their assignments."
Zywicki wasn't satisfied with a 15-0 halftime lead.
"If the clock could fly that is what I wanted it to do," he said.
McArthur made several big plays passing the ball in the second half against a Cubans' defense that came in giving up just 3.1 points per game. The Redbirds had a 47-yard drive that chewed up more than 5 minutes in the third quarter, but the drive stalled after a holding penalty at the Cubans' 10-yard line. McArthur completed 11 of 23 passes for 117 yards. Senior Brandon Hardyman had four catches for 76 yards. Whalen rushed for 39 yards on nine carries and scored one touchdown.
"It's a huge win," Whalen said. "We wanted to be in the lead in conference. If we win out against Southwestern and Fennimore we will be conference champions and go into the playoffs and see what we can do."
Darlington is turning many more football fans into believers after surviving a desperation fourth down passing play with less than 30 seconds to go to stun undefeated Cuba City 15-7 Friday at Martens Field.
"We were doubted big time in the SWAL this year," McArthur said after a critical homecoming win against the Cubans, who were ranked ninth in the Small Schools Associated Press state poll. "We lost some great players in Alex (Erickson) and Tucker (Wiegel). No one thought we could win it. We came out here and won the game."
Cuba City quarterback Kyle Frederick helped rally the Cubans from a 15-0 deficit in the fourth quarter with a 31-yard TD pass to Jeff Meckstroth with 3 minutes, 24 seconds left. The Cubans then recovered an onside kick. The Cubans' last chance with about 30 seconds to go came on fourth-and-14, and Frederick's 13-yard pass to Jacob Timmerman came up just a foot short of a first down and the Redbirds survived.
"I know Tyler was disappointed he didn't recover that onside kick," McArthur said. "We came together and we made some plays and he (Tyler) made some plays. We came back and got it done."
With the win, Darlington (5-2, 5-0 SWAL) is in the driver's seat for its third straight SWAL title. The Redbirds extended their conference winning streak to 16 games.
"You start feeling deflated knowing it may end up in overtime," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said of the fourth down play. "You worry about the psyche of the kids. We were fortunate to get him down before the yard sticks."
It's a huge win for the Redbirds. When asked if this was the defining moment for the Redbirds, Zywicki was adamant.
"I don't think this was our defining moment," Zywicki said. "It was a signature win for us. Hopefully, it's not our defining moment. If we go on and lose next week, this game against Cuba City won't matter because we will be tied. I hope our kids don't want to end up sharing the conference."
Early on, the Redbirds dominated the first half. Darlington capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive when senior Seth Rowe barreled in for a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter. Mitchell Whalen raced in for a two-point conversion after a bad snap on the extra point to give the Redbirds an 8-0 lead. The big plays of the drive included McArthur's 23-yard hook and lateral pass to Storm Wiegel, who flipped it to Whalen. Rowe also converted a key fourth-and-2 with a 2-yard run to keep the drive alive.
The Redbirds' defense set the tone early by shutting down the Cubans power running and option attack. Darlington forced three turnovers in the first half (two fumbles and one interception) and the Cubans didn't have a first down until midway through the second quarter. Darlington sophomore A.J. Brandt recovered a fumbled pitch at the Cubans' 12-yard line. Two plays later, Whalen raced in for a 6-yard TD run with 8:01 left in the second quarter to make it 15-0.
The Cubans drove down to the Redbirds' 11-yard line late in the second quarter, but Levi Wedig's interception thwarted the threat. After giving up 99 points in their first two games against Platteville and Brodhead-Juda, the Redbirds' defense has stiffened and got consistent pressure from sophomore defensive end Michael Ruf.
"Our kids have got better," Zywicki said of the defense. "They are starting to get comfortable in their roles and understand their assignments."
Zywicki wasn't satisfied with a 15-0 halftime lead.
"If the clock could fly that is what I wanted it to do," he said.
McArthur made several big plays passing the ball in the second half against a Cubans' defense that came in giving up just 3.1 points per game. The Redbirds had a 47-yard drive that chewed up more than 5 minutes in the third quarter, but the drive stalled after a holding penalty at the Cubans' 10-yard line. McArthur completed 11 of 23 passes for 117 yards. Senior Brandon Hardyman had four catches for 76 yards. Whalen rushed for 39 yards on nine carries and scored one touchdown.
"It's a huge win," Whalen said. "We wanted to be in the lead in conference. If we win out against Southwestern and Fennimore we will be conference champions and go into the playoffs and see what we can do."
