DARLINGTON – The Redbirds will try to win a conference title in a league that harkens back to decades ago. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several teams around the state have moved their prep football seasons to the alternate spring session, including several schools in the southwestern part of the state.
The WIAA’s state-wide football realignment split up many of the teams that recently had played in the SWAL and SWC conferences. However, nearly half of the teams in each league opted to move their seasons to the spring.
Both the SWC and the SWAL have combined for one schedule this fall, and the Redbirds are hoping to ride their experience and talent to the top of the standings.
“We want to find seven games to play and win them all,” said third-year Darlington coach Travis Winkers. In 2019, the Redbirds went 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the SWAL.
While Darlington lost a solid group of seniors from last year – including first-team all-conference lineman Bailey Schilling and second team linebacker Carson Lobdell – the Redbirds return a slew of experience at every position.
Seven starters from last year’s team return, as do eight on defense. Junior Braden Davis is expected to handle the quarterbacking duties for the third straight year – assuming he beats out senior Cayden Rankin for the job.
“(Davis’) work ethic is pretty spectacular and is a team-first guy. I had a really special QB in Carson Clark at Markesan and I feel that Braden has the ability to be better,” said Winkers, who added that Rankin is a “talented athlete who struggles throwing but could be very dynamic as a runner in our option offense.”
Most eyes are fixated on the tall and skillful set of receivers – which includes 6-foot, 3-inch first-team all-conference senior wideout Carter Lancaster.
“Carter Lancaster has a chance to break all of Darlington’s receiving records this year – if we get to have a seven-game season,” Winkers said. “(He) is the best small school athlete in Southwest Wisconsin and top 3 athlete I have ever coached. He is getting a lot of D2 attention for football but I think he would prefer to play hoops in college.”
Cayden Rankin, a 6-6 senior receiver and second-team all-conference DB will also demand attention, as will juniors Hunter Hardyman (6-3) and Easton Evenstad (5-11).
“Evenstad could very well be our best football player. Another tireless worker that I believe is going to breakout this year,” Winkers said.
On defense, those same receivers play in the defensive backfield, adding height, length and jumping ability that makes throwing deep nearly impossible. Other returning starts on defense include Parker Fitzsimons (DB), James Hartwig (DL), Matt Ruf (DL), Brady Horn (LB) and edge-rusher Cole Crist.
“We also made some coaching changes and are going to a 3-3-5 defense that I had run at Markesan. Players will need have some growing pains as we switch to something different,” Winkers said.
Linemen Ethan Hendrickson and Matt King will lead the way up front. The coaching staff is excited about three newcomers to the line of scrimmage: Juniors Axel Mendez and Wiley Zasada, and sophomore Max McGuire. Freshmen Carter Murray and Breyling Goebel might see some action at the skill positions, with junior Ethan Schuchart also getting a look on the outside.
However, the lack of experience on the offensive line could lead to some growing pains for the Redbirds this fall.
“As awesome as I think our skill players, championships are won in the trenches. We are not super deep here and not particularly big. Luckily we run option football and are able to get away with quicker lineman,” Winkers said.
Winkers said he expects Mineral Point, River Valley and Lancaster to sit near the top of the SWAL/SWC standings at the end of this year. Prairie du Chien, Dodgeville and Richland Center are also a part of the conference this fall.
As much as the Redbirds think they can walk on the field and win, Winkers said a big part of the battle this fall will be mental toughness.
“Even last year we have the ability to play with anyone. We beat Lake Country Lutheran and I do not believe it was a fluke. Last year’s team relied so much on scoring early for our psychological importance,” Winkers said. “When we did that our kids felt comfortable and just let their athleticism take over. When we didn’t it tended to get ugly. Our going-to-be-seniors is a very talented class but leadership and mental toughness lacks.”
The other part of mental toughness that needs to improve is player accountability.
“We saw the lack of mental toughness already with player suspensions,” Winkers said. “Our skill positions had the potential to be the best I have ever coached. We were expecting to return every skill position and their backups. With our RB being out for the year and another player out for two games, we will have to do some shuffling of positions.”
