LIVINGSTON - The Darlington football team's postseason run came to an end with a 32-15 loss to Iowa-Grant in a Level 3 playoff game on Saturday.
Darlington (6-5) committed four turnovers and Iowa-Grant scored 18 points of those miscues.
"Turnovers were part of our problems," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "We also had some penalties. When you play a team with the skill level and talent of Iowa-Grant, we just can't do that. If you give a team like Iowa-Grant extra possessions it will come back and haunt you and it haunted us Saturday."
Iowa-Grant senior quarterback Derek Peat rushed for 93 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Panthers to the WIAA Division 6 state semifinals.
Iowa-Grant (9-2) cashed in on a 10-play, 63-yard drive late in the first quarter when Cody Rider capped it off with a 7-yard TD run. Iowa-Grant senior Tucker Sarbacker, who rushed for 125 yards, had a big 22-yard run on the drive. Rider also had a key 10-yard run to keep the drive alive.
Rider then intercepted a Darlington sophomore Cole McDonald's pass to set up the Panthers' next score. Iowa-Grant senior quarterback Derek Peat then scored on a 12-yard run to extend the Panthers' lead to 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
McDonald tossed a pass to Jason Singer and he raced for a 68-yard TD to cut the Panthers' lead to 13-7 at the start of the third quarter. Peat answered with a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter.
After a defensive stop by Darlington, Singer fumbled it back to the Panthers. Peat scored five plays later to extend the Panthers' lead to 19-7. Singer rushed for 91 yards to lead the Redbirds.
Zywicki said the Redbirds had the momentum after the touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter, but Iowa-Grant was able to get it back by forcing turnovers.
Eli Wienkes returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 25-7 lead. Darlington sophomore Myles Leahy had a 21-yard TD run and Singer ran in the two-point conversion to cut the Panthers' lead to 25-15 in the fourth quarter. Peat scored his third touchdown on a 10-yard run to put the Redbirds away.
"We just have to move forward and get better," Zywicki said.
Darlington reached the state quarterfinals for the third time in the last four years and will have its entire staring backfield back next year.
"I hope they are motivated," Zywicki said. "It gives us an idea of what we could be next year. Right now it's only potential. Just because you are a year older next year doesn't mean you will be better next year. You have to do the work in the offseason and transcend and make yourself better."
Darlington (6-5) committed four turnovers and Iowa-Grant scored 18 points of those miscues.
"Turnovers were part of our problems," Darlington coach Scott Zywicki said. "We also had some penalties. When you play a team with the skill level and talent of Iowa-Grant, we just can't do that. If you give a team like Iowa-Grant extra possessions it will come back and haunt you and it haunted us Saturday."
Iowa-Grant senior quarterback Derek Peat rushed for 93 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Panthers to the WIAA Division 6 state semifinals.
Iowa-Grant (9-2) cashed in on a 10-play, 63-yard drive late in the first quarter when Cody Rider capped it off with a 7-yard TD run. Iowa-Grant senior Tucker Sarbacker, who rushed for 125 yards, had a big 22-yard run on the drive. Rider also had a key 10-yard run to keep the drive alive.
Rider then intercepted a Darlington sophomore Cole McDonald's pass to set up the Panthers' next score. Iowa-Grant senior quarterback Derek Peat then scored on a 12-yard run to extend the Panthers' lead to 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
McDonald tossed a pass to Jason Singer and he raced for a 68-yard TD to cut the Panthers' lead to 13-7 at the start of the third quarter. Peat answered with a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter.
After a defensive stop by Darlington, Singer fumbled it back to the Panthers. Peat scored five plays later to extend the Panthers' lead to 19-7. Singer rushed for 91 yards to lead the Redbirds.
Zywicki said the Redbirds had the momentum after the touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter, but Iowa-Grant was able to get it back by forcing turnovers.
Eli Wienkes returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 25-7 lead. Darlington sophomore Myles Leahy had a 21-yard TD run and Singer ran in the two-point conversion to cut the Panthers' lead to 25-15 in the fourth quarter. Peat scored his third touchdown on a 10-yard run to put the Redbirds away.
"We just have to move forward and get better," Zywicki said.
Darlington reached the state quarterfinals for the third time in the last four years and will have its entire staring backfield back next year.
"I hope they are motivated," Zywicki said. "It gives us an idea of what we could be next year. Right now it's only potential. Just because you are a year older next year doesn't mean you will be better next year. You have to do the work in the offseason and transcend and make yourself better."
