DARLINGTON - With a gusty wind, Darlington senior quarterback Cole McDonald didn't mind passing the ball as Southwestern stacked the box to combat the Redbirds' powerful running game.
McDonald completed 6-of-10 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns to lead Darlington to a 54-12 homecoming win over Southwestern at Martens Field Friday.
McDonald set the tone early on connecting with sophomore running back Hunter Johnson on a 41-yard TD pass.
"They didn't have a safety in the middle of the field in the beginning of the game so we went with the pop pass," McDonald said of the Wildcats. "I didn't really feel any pressure. I definitely felt like we had to capitalize on those passes. I just wanted to capitalize on those passes because that is why my coach called it and I wanted to make him proud."
Darlington senior Jason Singer rushed for 95 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught a 47-yard TD pass. Johnson rushed for 66 yards on five carries and scored one touchdown. Johnson had two receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
"He (McDonald) has a very strong arm," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "He's not very big. Maybe it's the baseball he plays. He is a pitcher. If he throws it into the wind and it continues to spiral, he has a great pass. We have a lot of great athletes and weapons. When you get to the playoffs you have to be balanced. You have to be able to throw the ball if they sell out to stack the box."
Southwestern (1-4) answered the Redbirds' first score with a nine-play, 73-yard drive, culminating in quarterback Jacob Banfield's 4-yard TD run. Darlington senior Cole Whalen blocked the extra point to preserve the Redbirds' 7-6 lead. The Wildcats had four runs of 12 yards or more on the drive.
"Our linebackers got too close to the line of scrimmage," Zywicki said. "They got tied up with linemen in the hole and we over pursued at times."
The Redbirds (4-1, 3-0 SWAL) responded with senior fullback Slade Norton's 3-yard TD run. Norton set up the touchdown when he ripped off a 37-yard run on the drive. Johnson ran in the two-point conversion to give the Redbirds a 15-6 lead with 4 minutes, 5 seconds to go in the first quarter.
The Redbirds racked up 475 total yards including 303 rushing yards. Norton rushed for 81 yards on eight carries and scored one touchdown.
It didn't take the Redbirds long to add to their lead with a 13-play, 73-yard drive capped off by Singer's 13-yard TD scamper to extend the lead to 21-6. McDonald then hooked up with Johnson on a 56-yard TD pass on a seam route that gave the Redbirds a 27-6 lead.
"Coach (Todd) Bastian had watched film of them and they always brought their safeties up," Johnson said of the Wildcats. "We were practicing the seam practices all week.
"It means a lot especially to the seniors because it's their last homecoming game. I wanted to do my best to get them the win."
The Wildcats cashed in on a late second-quarter drive that was kept alive by two personal foul penalties by the Redbirds. Southwestern senior Jacob Pollock took a snap and ran a quarterback draw for a 15-yard TD to cut the Redbirds' lead to 27-12. McDonald answered with a 47-yard TD pass to Singer with 34 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Redbirds an insurmountable 35-12 lead at the half.
Johnson bolted for a 58-yard TD run in the third quarter and Singer raced for a 63-yard TD run.
Darlington sophomore starting offensive linemen Jesse Sturtz at 230 pounds moved to fullback in the fourth quarter and had a 13-yard TD run.
The Redbirds shut down the Wildcats in the second half. Darlington senior defensive end A.J. Coulthard had two sacks and one forced fumble.
"I think we have a lot of weapons and playmakers on offense," Zywicki said. "I think on defense we are improving and heading in the right direction."
The Redbirds played without senior starting fullback Myles Leahy due to an ankle injury. Zywicki said Leahy probably won't play next week either.
"It was just a precaution," Zywicki said. "We want him to be full-go against Cuba City."
McDonald completed 6-of-10 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns to lead Darlington to a 54-12 homecoming win over Southwestern at Martens Field Friday.
McDonald set the tone early on connecting with sophomore running back Hunter Johnson on a 41-yard TD pass.
"They didn't have a safety in the middle of the field in the beginning of the game so we went with the pop pass," McDonald said of the Wildcats. "I didn't really feel any pressure. I definitely felt like we had to capitalize on those passes. I just wanted to capitalize on those passes because that is why my coach called it and I wanted to make him proud."
Darlington senior Jason Singer rushed for 95 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught a 47-yard TD pass. Johnson rushed for 66 yards on five carries and scored one touchdown. Johnson had two receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
"He (McDonald) has a very strong arm," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "He's not very big. Maybe it's the baseball he plays. He is a pitcher. If he throws it into the wind and it continues to spiral, he has a great pass. We have a lot of great athletes and weapons. When you get to the playoffs you have to be balanced. You have to be able to throw the ball if they sell out to stack the box."
Southwestern (1-4) answered the Redbirds' first score with a nine-play, 73-yard drive, culminating in quarterback Jacob Banfield's 4-yard TD run. Darlington senior Cole Whalen blocked the extra point to preserve the Redbirds' 7-6 lead. The Wildcats had four runs of 12 yards or more on the drive.
"Our linebackers got too close to the line of scrimmage," Zywicki said. "They got tied up with linemen in the hole and we over pursued at times."
The Redbirds (4-1, 3-0 SWAL) responded with senior fullback Slade Norton's 3-yard TD run. Norton set up the touchdown when he ripped off a 37-yard run on the drive. Johnson ran in the two-point conversion to give the Redbirds a 15-6 lead with 4 minutes, 5 seconds to go in the first quarter.
The Redbirds racked up 475 total yards including 303 rushing yards. Norton rushed for 81 yards on eight carries and scored one touchdown.
It didn't take the Redbirds long to add to their lead with a 13-play, 73-yard drive capped off by Singer's 13-yard TD scamper to extend the lead to 21-6. McDonald then hooked up with Johnson on a 56-yard TD pass on a seam route that gave the Redbirds a 27-6 lead.
"Coach (Todd) Bastian had watched film of them and they always brought their safeties up," Johnson said of the Wildcats. "We were practicing the seam practices all week.
"It means a lot especially to the seniors because it's their last homecoming game. I wanted to do my best to get them the win."
The Wildcats cashed in on a late second-quarter drive that was kept alive by two personal foul penalties by the Redbirds. Southwestern senior Jacob Pollock took a snap and ran a quarterback draw for a 15-yard TD to cut the Redbirds' lead to 27-12. McDonald answered with a 47-yard TD pass to Singer with 34 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Redbirds an insurmountable 35-12 lead at the half.
Johnson bolted for a 58-yard TD run in the third quarter and Singer raced for a 63-yard TD run.
Darlington sophomore starting offensive linemen Jesse Sturtz at 230 pounds moved to fullback in the fourth quarter and had a 13-yard TD run.
The Redbirds shut down the Wildcats in the second half. Darlington senior defensive end A.J. Coulthard had two sacks and one forced fumble.
"I think we have a lot of weapons and playmakers on offense," Zywicki said. "I think on defense we are improving and heading in the right direction."
The Redbirds played without senior starting fullback Myles Leahy due to an ankle injury. Zywicki said Leahy probably won't play next week either.
"It was just a precaution," Zywicki said. "We want him to be full-go against Cuba City."
