DARLINGTON - Running back Jason Singer may consider giving a gift to his offensive lineman after Darlington ran away with a 47-14 win over Brookwood in a WIAA Division 6 Level 3 playoff game Saturday, Nov. 9.
Singer rushed for 167 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns to become the third running back to eclipse 1,000 yards for the Redbirds this season. It's just the sixth time in the history of WIAA football that a team has had three running backs who have rushed for 1,000 yards in the same season.
"We haven't done it yet," Singer said of buying the offensive linemen breakfast or dinner. "I think I'm going to do it. We knew coming in I would probably get it (1,000 yards) if we had any running attack at all. I know it means a lot to the line."
With the win, Darlington (11-1), ranked No. 5 in the WisSports.net Division 6 Coaches poll, advances to the state semifinal where the Redbirds will play No. 1 ranked Fond du Lac Saint Mary's Springs (12-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 in Middleton.
"It feels good to win the game by so much, especially since it was our last home game," Singer said. "It feels great to go to the state semifinals and to get a chance to play for state."
Darlington junior Myles Leahy rushed for 148 yards on 26 carries and scored one touchdown. The Redbirds racked up 398 total rushing yards.
"We have a bruising fullback," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said of Leahy. "If you are 165 pounds and you keep tackling a 215 pound back, it will wear you down."
The Redbirds overcame an inauspicious start after fumbling on their first possession. The Redbirds' defense came through forcing the Falcons into a turnover on downs. It didn't take the Redbirds long to click after that.
The Redbirds marched 68 yards in 13 plays. The drive culminated in senior Tanner Wiegel's 4-yard TD run that gave the Redbirds a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
"It was big our defense didn't give up points early on," Zywicki said. "Our defense takes a lot of pride in shutting other teams down. They did a very good job against an explosive team. We would have liked to have had a couple of plays back. We did our assignments for the most part."
Brookwood's Josh Marten returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. The Redbirds answered with a seven-play, 57-yard drive, capped off by Singer's 7-yard TD run early in the second quarter to take a 14-6 lead.
Singer credited his offensive line for his success.
"We went big and moved A.J. Brandt into the backfield and he destroyed people with his big blocks," Singer said. "Hayden works hard. He's an animal."
Darlington senior Aric Geissbuhler came up with a clutch interception late in the second quarter. The Redbirds cashed in on the turnover with Singer punching in a 2-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 21-6 lead at the half.
The big play of the drive was Singer's 35-yard run. The Redbirds forced three turnovers and scored 13 points off of the Falcons' miscues.
"Our defense has been doing a great job all year," Darlington's Hayden Black said. "We never get down on ourselves. We pick it up and get going."
The Redbirds kept pounding the ball on the ground and wore down the Falcons in the second half. The Redbirds capped an eight-play, 84-yard drive to open the third quarter with Wiegel racing for a 35-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 28-6 lead.
Ryan then ripped off a 47-yard run to set up the next scoring drive for the Falcons. He scored on a 10-yard run to cut the Redbirds' lead to 28-14. However, that didn't last long. There was no miracle comeback by the Falcons.
The Redbirds responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive, culminating in Cole McDonald's 6-yard TD pass to Cole Whalen late in the third quarter. Black recovered a fumble by the Falcons to set up the next scoring drive. Leahy capped the drive with a 1-yard TD plunge to give the Redbirds a 41-14 lead. Darlington senior Weston Ritchie also added a 4-yard TD run.
McDonald was 3 of 3 passing for 38 yards and one touchdown. Whalen had two catches for 23 yards and one touchdown.
"Coach Todd Bastian did a great job of calling plays," Zywicki said. "He mixed it up. We were able to make some plays with play action passes."
Darlington now gears up for Saint Mary's Springs.
"They have a very explosive team," Zywicki said. "Early in the year we believed we had an experienced football team and we were good enough to get this far. You have to execute. We definitely have the talent to do it."
Singer rushed for 167 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns to become the third running back to eclipse 1,000 yards for the Redbirds this season. It's just the sixth time in the history of WIAA football that a team has had three running backs who have rushed for 1,000 yards in the same season.
"We haven't done it yet," Singer said of buying the offensive linemen breakfast or dinner. "I think I'm going to do it. We knew coming in I would probably get it (1,000 yards) if we had any running attack at all. I know it means a lot to the line."
With the win, Darlington (11-1), ranked No. 5 in the WisSports.net Division 6 Coaches poll, advances to the state semifinal where the Redbirds will play No. 1 ranked Fond du Lac Saint Mary's Springs (12-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 in Middleton.
"It feels good to win the game by so much, especially since it was our last home game," Singer said. "It feels great to go to the state semifinals and to get a chance to play for state."
Darlington junior Myles Leahy rushed for 148 yards on 26 carries and scored one touchdown. The Redbirds racked up 398 total rushing yards.
"We have a bruising fullback," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said of Leahy. "If you are 165 pounds and you keep tackling a 215 pound back, it will wear you down."
The Redbirds overcame an inauspicious start after fumbling on their first possession. The Redbirds' defense came through forcing the Falcons into a turnover on downs. It didn't take the Redbirds long to click after that.
The Redbirds marched 68 yards in 13 plays. The drive culminated in senior Tanner Wiegel's 4-yard TD run that gave the Redbirds a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
"It was big our defense didn't give up points early on," Zywicki said. "Our defense takes a lot of pride in shutting other teams down. They did a very good job against an explosive team. We would have liked to have had a couple of plays back. We did our assignments for the most part."
Brookwood's Josh Marten returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. The Redbirds answered with a seven-play, 57-yard drive, capped off by Singer's 7-yard TD run early in the second quarter to take a 14-6 lead.
Singer credited his offensive line for his success.
"We went big and moved A.J. Brandt into the backfield and he destroyed people with his big blocks," Singer said. "Hayden works hard. He's an animal."
Darlington senior Aric Geissbuhler came up with a clutch interception late in the second quarter. The Redbirds cashed in on the turnover with Singer punching in a 2-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 21-6 lead at the half.
The big play of the drive was Singer's 35-yard run. The Redbirds forced three turnovers and scored 13 points off of the Falcons' miscues.
"Our defense has been doing a great job all year," Darlington's Hayden Black said. "We never get down on ourselves. We pick it up and get going."
The Redbirds kept pounding the ball on the ground and wore down the Falcons in the second half. The Redbirds capped an eight-play, 84-yard drive to open the third quarter with Wiegel racing for a 35-yard TD run to give the Redbirds a 28-6 lead.
Ryan then ripped off a 47-yard run to set up the next scoring drive for the Falcons. He scored on a 10-yard run to cut the Redbirds' lead to 28-14. However, that didn't last long. There was no miracle comeback by the Falcons.
The Redbirds responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive, culminating in Cole McDonald's 6-yard TD pass to Cole Whalen late in the third quarter. Black recovered a fumble by the Falcons to set up the next scoring drive. Leahy capped the drive with a 1-yard TD plunge to give the Redbirds a 41-14 lead. Darlington senior Weston Ritchie also added a 4-yard TD run.
McDonald was 3 of 3 passing for 38 yards and one touchdown. Whalen had two catches for 23 yards and one touchdown.
"Coach Todd Bastian did a great job of calling plays," Zywicki said. "He mixed it up. We were able to make some plays with play action passes."
Darlington now gears up for Saint Mary's Springs.
"They have a very explosive team," Zywicki said. "Early in the year we believed we had an experienced football team and we were good enough to get this far. You have to execute. We definitely have the talent to do it."
