DARLINGTON - The Redbirds intercepted pass-happy Mineral Point five times and ran for nearly 400 yards as they pitched a 56-0 shutout in a historic homecoming that marked the school's first game under the lights at Martens Field.
Myles Leahy led Darlington in rushing with 104 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown. But Leahy had more points on defense. The two-way starter had two interception returns for touchdowns, including a 42-yarder as Darlington (7-1, 6-0 SWAL) rolled.
"Obviously they (Mineral Point) throw the ball quite a bit," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "We were playing some mixed coverages, man and zone.
We did a great job of not giving windows to throw to."
Pointers quarterback Scotty Pittz threw for 102 yards, more than double the Redbirds' output, but Darlington's Jason Singer was the game's leading receiver with 49 yards on a single reception. Tarek Oellerich led Mineral Point (3-5, 2-4 SWAL) with 30 yards on three catches.
The Redbirds pulled all of their starters early in the second half and before it was done they got a first down run from linebacker Carson Carpenter.
"We joked earlier in the year that he was going to come to running back drills, then our offensive coordinator gave him a carry," Zywicki said.
"We can have a little fun out there and not be all business all the time. It's fun for them (the players) and they will give more of themselves when they're having fun."
Brodhead-Juda 54, Parkview 7
ORFORDVILLE - The Cardinals jumped out to a big lead en route to a 54-7 win over Orfordville Parkview Friday, Oct. 11.
Derek Turner led the way for Brodhead-Juda (7-1, 4-0 Rock Valley South) with 107 yards and two touchdowns on only five carries. Coty Knudtson and Tyler Updike also had two rushing touchdowns apiece.
"Right now we're playing really well," Cardinals coach B.J. Bockhop said. "We're playing hard nose and aggressive football and it's fun to watch."
According to Bockhop, due to injuries Parkview (0-8, 0-4 Rock Valley South) only had 18 players suit up for the game. The Vikings had nearly as many passing as rushing yards, getting 61 yards from quarterback Jess Gearhart.
"Our defense played another great game," Bockhop said. "Our offensive line also did a great job blocking for out backs. If we play Brodhead-Juda football I think we can beat (next week's opponent Big Foot)."
Evansville-Albany 41, East Troy 21
EVANSVILLE - On a night when the field was named in honor of Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen, the Blue Devils clinched a playoff berth.
The Trojans had the first and last touchdown, but Evansville-Albany had almost everything in between as it nearly doubled its opponent's score.
Ryan Cashore ran for 133 yards and three touchdowns for the Blue Devils (5-3, 3-1 Rock Valley North). East Troy was led by Zack Lamb's 116 rushing yards.
"Our line was the big difference in the game," Grovesteen said. "It was a tight game through the first half. In the second half we got control of the line of scrimmage and were able to run the ball effectively."
Trojans (3-5, 1-3 Rock Valley North) wide receiver Sam Eckert had 85 yards receiving on four catches and got in the end zone twice. Matt Sperry had 148 yards passing for the Blue Devils.
Black Hawk 27, Belmont 24
BELMONT - Black Hawk coach Cory Milz warned his team that Belmont was a playoff-worthy team that could present a challenge.
The proclamation came to fruition as Black Hawk rallied to survive a scare to beat Belmont 27-24.
"I'm surprised they are still struggling to qualify for the playoffs," Milz said last week after the Warriors beat Pecatonica-Argyle. "I have had this game circled."
Black Hawk (8-0, 7-0 Six Rivers East), ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Division 7 coaches' poll, avoided a tie atop the conference with Potosi by coming back to win. With the loss, Belmont drops to 4-4, 4-3 Six Rivers.
Waterloo 40,
NG-Monticello 34
WATERLOO - After a big emotional homecoming win against Marshall last week, the Glarner Knights lost a shootout to Waterloo 40-34.
With the loss, New Glarus-Monticello (4-4, 3-1 Capitol South) is now tied atop the conference with Cambridge and Marshall. If the Knights can beat Cambridge next week, they would win the Capitol South Conference championship.
Waterloo (5-3, 2-2) rallied from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to knock off the Knights. New Glarus-Monticello senior Jim Chenoweth rushed for 230 yards and scored two touchdowns. New Glarus-Monticello's Casey Severson scored three touchdowns.
Waterloo's Wyatt Gallitz completed 17-of-34 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Waterloo's Jordan Hensler rushed for 90 yards and scored two touchdowns.
New Glarus-Monticello's Gavin Binger was 5 of 10 passing for 54 yards.
Potosi 26,
Pec-Argyle 21
BLANCHARDVILLE - The matchup between two of the top three teams in the Six Rivers Conference did not disappoint as the Cheiftains eked out a close victory, putting in the go-ahead score with 1:31 remaining to beat Pecatonica-Argyle.
Potosi started strong scoring the first three touchdowns but missed all three extra points. The Vikings (6-2, 5-2 Six Rivers) then scored the next three touchdowns to go up by a field goal. The Chieftains responded, marching down the field and capping off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Potosi (7-1, 6-1 Six Rivers) had two 100-yard rushers with Chase Kruser notching 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns and Brent Curtis tallying 111. Drew Schleim had 132 yards passing and two touchdowns for Pecatonica-Argyle.
Myles Leahy led Darlington in rushing with 104 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown. But Leahy had more points on defense. The two-way starter had two interception returns for touchdowns, including a 42-yarder as Darlington (7-1, 6-0 SWAL) rolled.
"Obviously they (Mineral Point) throw the ball quite a bit," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "We were playing some mixed coverages, man and zone.
We did a great job of not giving windows to throw to."
Pointers quarterback Scotty Pittz threw for 102 yards, more than double the Redbirds' output, but Darlington's Jason Singer was the game's leading receiver with 49 yards on a single reception. Tarek Oellerich led Mineral Point (3-5, 2-4 SWAL) with 30 yards on three catches.
The Redbirds pulled all of their starters early in the second half and before it was done they got a first down run from linebacker Carson Carpenter.
"We joked earlier in the year that he was going to come to running back drills, then our offensive coordinator gave him a carry," Zywicki said.
"We can have a little fun out there and not be all business all the time. It's fun for them (the players) and they will give more of themselves when they're having fun."
Brodhead-Juda 54, Parkview 7
ORFORDVILLE - The Cardinals jumped out to a big lead en route to a 54-7 win over Orfordville Parkview Friday, Oct. 11.
Derek Turner led the way for Brodhead-Juda (7-1, 4-0 Rock Valley South) with 107 yards and two touchdowns on only five carries. Coty Knudtson and Tyler Updike also had two rushing touchdowns apiece.
"Right now we're playing really well," Cardinals coach B.J. Bockhop said. "We're playing hard nose and aggressive football and it's fun to watch."
According to Bockhop, due to injuries Parkview (0-8, 0-4 Rock Valley South) only had 18 players suit up for the game. The Vikings had nearly as many passing as rushing yards, getting 61 yards from quarterback Jess Gearhart.
"Our defense played another great game," Bockhop said. "Our offensive line also did a great job blocking for out backs. If we play Brodhead-Juda football I think we can beat (next week's opponent Big Foot)."
Evansville-Albany 41, East Troy 21
EVANSVILLE - On a night when the field was named in honor of Evansville-Albany coach Ron Grovesteen, the Blue Devils clinched a playoff berth.
The Trojans had the first and last touchdown, but Evansville-Albany had almost everything in between as it nearly doubled its opponent's score.
Ryan Cashore ran for 133 yards and three touchdowns for the Blue Devils (5-3, 3-1 Rock Valley North). East Troy was led by Zack Lamb's 116 rushing yards.
"Our line was the big difference in the game," Grovesteen said. "It was a tight game through the first half. In the second half we got control of the line of scrimmage and were able to run the ball effectively."
Trojans (3-5, 1-3 Rock Valley North) wide receiver Sam Eckert had 85 yards receiving on four catches and got in the end zone twice. Matt Sperry had 148 yards passing for the Blue Devils.
Black Hawk 27, Belmont 24
BELMONT - Black Hawk coach Cory Milz warned his team that Belmont was a playoff-worthy team that could present a challenge.
The proclamation came to fruition as Black Hawk rallied to survive a scare to beat Belmont 27-24.
"I'm surprised they are still struggling to qualify for the playoffs," Milz said last week after the Warriors beat Pecatonica-Argyle. "I have had this game circled."
Black Hawk (8-0, 7-0 Six Rivers East), ranked No. 1 in the WisSports.net Division 7 coaches' poll, avoided a tie atop the conference with Potosi by coming back to win. With the loss, Belmont drops to 4-4, 4-3 Six Rivers.
Waterloo 40,
NG-Monticello 34
WATERLOO - After a big emotional homecoming win against Marshall last week, the Glarner Knights lost a shootout to Waterloo 40-34.
With the loss, New Glarus-Monticello (4-4, 3-1 Capitol South) is now tied atop the conference with Cambridge and Marshall. If the Knights can beat Cambridge next week, they would win the Capitol South Conference championship.
Waterloo (5-3, 2-2) rallied from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to knock off the Knights. New Glarus-Monticello senior Jim Chenoweth rushed for 230 yards and scored two touchdowns. New Glarus-Monticello's Casey Severson scored three touchdowns.
Waterloo's Wyatt Gallitz completed 17-of-34 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Waterloo's Jordan Hensler rushed for 90 yards and scored two touchdowns.
New Glarus-Monticello's Gavin Binger was 5 of 10 passing for 54 yards.
Potosi 26,
Pec-Argyle 21
BLANCHARDVILLE - The matchup between two of the top three teams in the Six Rivers Conference did not disappoint as the Cheiftains eked out a close victory, putting in the go-ahead score with 1:31 remaining to beat Pecatonica-Argyle.
Potosi started strong scoring the first three touchdowns but missed all three extra points. The Vikings (6-2, 5-2 Six Rivers) then scored the next three touchdowns to go up by a field goal. The Chieftains responded, marching down the field and capping off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Potosi (7-1, 6-1 Six Rivers) had two 100-yard rushers with Chase Kruser notching 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns and Brent Curtis tallying 111. Drew Schleim had 132 yards passing and two touchdowns for Pecatonica-Argyle.
