DARLINGTON - When Darlington football coach Scott Zywicki looks at tape of Iowa-Grant, it's like he is seeing a mirror image of the Redbirds.
"They kind of look like us as far as the athletes, a solid defense and offensive line," Zywicki said. "They are very explosive and can score from anywhere on the field."
Darlington (6-1, 4-1 SWAL), ranked seventh in the WisSports.net Division 5 Coaches poll, will need to beat Iowa-Grant (6-1, 5-0), ranked 11th, to have a chance to share the SWAL Conference title in a jumbled hunt for the championship with Cuba City (4-3, 4-1) still in contention.
"If you are given second life, you have to take advantage of it," Zywicki said. "It's an advantage that we have the chance to play for a conference championship. It gives our kids a ton of motivation."
Iowa-Grant has won six straight games since a 26-7 week 1 loss to New Glarus-Monticello. The Panthers have beat Fennimore 24-0 and squeaked out a 21-20 win over Cuba City two weeks ago.
Darlington junior Alex Erickson has been a dual threat, racking up 1,156 total yards already this year - 551 rushing yards, 605 passing yards and 17 total touchdowns.
The Panthers average 33.1 points per game and have a balanced offense that isn't afraid to put the ball in the air. Iowa-Grant quarterback Cole Solomon has passed for 863 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Panthers top wide receiver is Kyle Riemenapp, who has caught 35 passes for 652 yards and seven touchdowns. There's no doubt that Riemenapp is the Panthers favorite target as he accounts for 75.5 percent of the team's receiving yards and is averaging 108.7 yards receiving per game.
Iowa-Grant running back Marcus Boothe has rushed for 735 yards and 12 touchdowns. Boothe is averaging 105 yards rushing a game and gives the Panthers a balanced offensive attack.
For Darlington to slow down the Panthers' offense, two players returning healthy is critical. Darlington senior Aaron Stauffacher, who has battled a foot injury, is a fixture at linebacker and a catalyst on offense at fullback. Senior defensive tackle Mark Brugger will be at full strength after he sprained his ankle.
Stauffacher rushed for 108 yards against Mineral Point two weeks ago, but aggravated a foot injury and didn't play at Boscobel last week in the Redbirds' 69-21 win. Stauffacher has rushed for 336 yards and four touchdowns, and he is expected to give the Redbirds another weapon on offense.
"Hopefully, that will give us another dimension to our offense," Zywicki said. "Before he got hurt, he was playing at an all-conference level. He could have played last week, but we didn't need him. We wanted him to be ready for the Iowa-Grant game this week."
The Redbirds will be without senior defensive tackle Jordan Riley, who suffered a season ending shoulder injury against Boscobel. Darlington junior Joey Hull, who had been in a three-man defensive tackle rotation, will start for the Redbirds.
Zywicki doesn't expect any drop off in the Redbirds' defense.
"He's a load to block at about 270," he said. "He will make them work to stay in front of him."
Zywicki remains concerned with slowing down the Panthers' passing game.
"There is no doubt that has been the Achilles' heel of ours this year," he said of defending the pass. "We have lacked consistency in our pass defense. One week we will shut one team down and the next we will give up 200 yards to a team that has no business getting that much."
The Redbirds, who average 40.28 points per game, also have a capable passing attack with senior Trynton Schwartz (12 receptions for 251 yards and three TDs). Darlington junior Tucker Wiegel has 434 total yards and eight touchdowns. Wiegel is a playmaker catching the ball out of the backfield and scored the game-winning touchdown against Fennimore.
New Glarus-Monticello forced Iowa-Grant into two interceptions to beat the Panthers, including a back-breaking third quarter interception by Cameron Jeglum when the Knights were clinging to a 14-7 lead. The Knights rushed for 210 total yards against the Panthers and Zywicki is expected to test Iowa-Grant's run defense.
"It's not just because of that game," Zywicki said. "That's who we are. We are a run first team. We have to run the ball to be effective. They have a very good line. We won't have a lot of time to throw if we can't run."
"They kind of look like us as far as the athletes, a solid defense and offensive line," Zywicki said. "They are very explosive and can score from anywhere on the field."
Darlington (6-1, 4-1 SWAL), ranked seventh in the WisSports.net Division 5 Coaches poll, will need to beat Iowa-Grant (6-1, 5-0), ranked 11th, to have a chance to share the SWAL Conference title in a jumbled hunt for the championship with Cuba City (4-3, 4-1) still in contention.
"If you are given second life, you have to take advantage of it," Zywicki said. "It's an advantage that we have the chance to play for a conference championship. It gives our kids a ton of motivation."
Iowa-Grant has won six straight games since a 26-7 week 1 loss to New Glarus-Monticello. The Panthers have beat Fennimore 24-0 and squeaked out a 21-20 win over Cuba City two weeks ago.
Darlington junior Alex Erickson has been a dual threat, racking up 1,156 total yards already this year - 551 rushing yards, 605 passing yards and 17 total touchdowns.
The Panthers average 33.1 points per game and have a balanced offense that isn't afraid to put the ball in the air. Iowa-Grant quarterback Cole Solomon has passed for 863 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Panthers top wide receiver is Kyle Riemenapp, who has caught 35 passes for 652 yards and seven touchdowns. There's no doubt that Riemenapp is the Panthers favorite target as he accounts for 75.5 percent of the team's receiving yards and is averaging 108.7 yards receiving per game.
Iowa-Grant running back Marcus Boothe has rushed for 735 yards and 12 touchdowns. Boothe is averaging 105 yards rushing a game and gives the Panthers a balanced offensive attack.
For Darlington to slow down the Panthers' offense, two players returning healthy is critical. Darlington senior Aaron Stauffacher, who has battled a foot injury, is a fixture at linebacker and a catalyst on offense at fullback. Senior defensive tackle Mark Brugger will be at full strength after he sprained his ankle.
Stauffacher rushed for 108 yards against Mineral Point two weeks ago, but aggravated a foot injury and didn't play at Boscobel last week in the Redbirds' 69-21 win. Stauffacher has rushed for 336 yards and four touchdowns, and he is expected to give the Redbirds another weapon on offense.
"Hopefully, that will give us another dimension to our offense," Zywicki said. "Before he got hurt, he was playing at an all-conference level. He could have played last week, but we didn't need him. We wanted him to be ready for the Iowa-Grant game this week."
The Redbirds will be without senior defensive tackle Jordan Riley, who suffered a season ending shoulder injury against Boscobel. Darlington junior Joey Hull, who had been in a three-man defensive tackle rotation, will start for the Redbirds.
Zywicki doesn't expect any drop off in the Redbirds' defense.
"He's a load to block at about 270," he said. "He will make them work to stay in front of him."
Zywicki remains concerned with slowing down the Panthers' passing game.
"There is no doubt that has been the Achilles' heel of ours this year," he said of defending the pass. "We have lacked consistency in our pass defense. One week we will shut one team down and the next we will give up 200 yards to a team that has no business getting that much."
The Redbirds, who average 40.28 points per game, also have a capable passing attack with senior Trynton Schwartz (12 receptions for 251 yards and three TDs). Darlington junior Tucker Wiegel has 434 total yards and eight touchdowns. Wiegel is a playmaker catching the ball out of the backfield and scored the game-winning touchdown against Fennimore.
New Glarus-Monticello forced Iowa-Grant into two interceptions to beat the Panthers, including a back-breaking third quarter interception by Cameron Jeglum when the Knights were clinging to a 14-7 lead. The Knights rushed for 210 total yards against the Panthers and Zywicki is expected to test Iowa-Grant's run defense.
"It's not just because of that game," Zywicki said. "That's who we are. We are a run first team. We have to run the ball to be effective. They have a very good line. We won't have a lot of time to throw if we can't run."
