DARLINGTON - Scott Zywicki expected Darlington to be on a collision course last year to meet Pecatonica-Argyle in a state semifinal.
However, Melrose-Mindoro's quarterback Sam Boone tossed a game-winning 21-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds to upset the Vikings 21-17 and the matchup in the state semifinal game didn't materialize. However, this season Pecatonica-Argyle (11-0) has been on a collision course to meet Darlington (11-0) in a WIAA Division 6 state quarterfinal since the playoff bracket was released. The Vikings will get their chance as they play at Darlington in a state quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Friday in an unbeaten showdown with a berth in the state semifinals at stake. The game will be played at Martens Field in Darlington since the Redbirds earned the No. 1 seed.
"Since the brackets came out, I figured this would happen," Zywicki said of the Redbirds matchup against the Vikings. "They no doubt are the best team we have played this year. They are one of the best teams in our division. To win would give either team bragging rights. Neither team will back down. You always want to be the best team in your area. I have no doubt they (Pec-Argyle) will come ready to play and I know our kids will go right at it."
Darlington, ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press small school state poll, and Pecatonica-Argyle, ranked No. 7, have each been ranked in the top 10 most of the season.
"We are just happy to be at this point and be able to play in the state quarterfinals regardless of the opponent," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "There are a lot of kids from the communities that know each other. Hopefully, we can compete with Darlington and make the game four quarters. Our goal from Day 1 was to go 1-0 every week."
There's no secret in how Darlington, the Division 6 state runner-up the last three years, attacks teams.
Darlington senior running back Hunter Johnson, a preferred walk-on for the University of Wisconsin's football team, does the heavy lifting for the Redbirds as a running back. Johnson has rushed for 1,937 yards and 39 touchdowns this year. He's averaging 176 rushing yards per game and 15.3 yards per carry. The Redbirds' Wing-T offense averages 58 points per game and 337 rushing yards a game.
"They (Darlington) have a running game you certainly have to try to slow down," Green said. "They have some size on the offensive line and some speed in the backfield. We have to play fundamentally sound. We have to do our assignments, stay in our gaps and gang tackle. We have to do a good job of tackling in the open field."
Trevor Johnson, Hunter's cousin, has rushed for 917 yards and scored 15 TDs. He's averaging a stunning 19.5 yards per carry.
"We certainly have to control the line of scrimmage and slow down their running game," Green said of the Redbirds. "We have been preaching do your job all year long."
Darlington senior quarterback Jared Meister has passed for 441 yards with seven touchdowns. He hasn't thrown an interception this season and is completing 59.5 percent of his passes.
"They don't have to pass too much, but when they do it's successful because everyone is trying to slow down their running game," Green said.
Darlington has five shutouts on defense this season. However, they haven't seen an offense as balanced as the Vikings.
Pecatonica-Argyle has a balanced offense that averages 35.2 points per game, 208 rushing yards and 128 passing yards per game. Pecatonica-Argyle senior quarterback Logan Green has passed for 1,307 yards with 21 TDs and just four interceptions.
The top wide receiver for the Vikings is senior A.J. Hendrickson who has 36 receptions for 631 yards and 11 TDs. Hendrickson is averaging 17.5 yards per catch and is a big-play threat.
"They have the ability to run and throw the ball," Zywicki said of the Vikings. "They have some really good athletes on the perimeter. It will be a challenge for our defense. They are the best team we have seen in a long time. They play a ton of various formations and try to get you out of position."
Senior running back Collin Argue has rushed for 958 yards and has eight TDs. Argue also has 14 receptions for 306 yards and five TDs out of the backfield.
The Vikings may be the most balanced offense the Redbirds have faced this season.
"I think it makes us tougher to prepare for when we have a balanced offense passing and rushing attack," Green said. "They have athletes all over the field. They are big on the line and that makes them difficult to run on. We have to get a little bit lower and run the ball."
However, Melrose-Mindoro's quarterback Sam Boone tossed a game-winning 21-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds to upset the Vikings 21-17 and the matchup in the state semifinal game didn't materialize. However, this season Pecatonica-Argyle (11-0) has been on a collision course to meet Darlington (11-0) in a WIAA Division 6 state quarterfinal since the playoff bracket was released. The Vikings will get their chance as they play at Darlington in a state quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Friday in an unbeaten showdown with a berth in the state semifinals at stake. The game will be played at Martens Field in Darlington since the Redbirds earned the No. 1 seed.
"Since the brackets came out, I figured this would happen," Zywicki said of the Redbirds matchup against the Vikings. "They no doubt are the best team we have played this year. They are one of the best teams in our division. To win would give either team bragging rights. Neither team will back down. You always want to be the best team in your area. I have no doubt they (Pec-Argyle) will come ready to play and I know our kids will go right at it."
Darlington, ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press small school state poll, and Pecatonica-Argyle, ranked No. 7, have each been ranked in the top 10 most of the season.
"We are just happy to be at this point and be able to play in the state quarterfinals regardless of the opponent," Pecatonica-Argyle coach Larry Green said. "There are a lot of kids from the communities that know each other. Hopefully, we can compete with Darlington and make the game four quarters. Our goal from Day 1 was to go 1-0 every week."
There's no secret in how Darlington, the Division 6 state runner-up the last three years, attacks teams.
Darlington senior running back Hunter Johnson, a preferred walk-on for the University of Wisconsin's football team, does the heavy lifting for the Redbirds as a running back. Johnson has rushed for 1,937 yards and 39 touchdowns this year. He's averaging 176 rushing yards per game and 15.3 yards per carry. The Redbirds' Wing-T offense averages 58 points per game and 337 rushing yards a game.
"They (Darlington) have a running game you certainly have to try to slow down," Green said. "They have some size on the offensive line and some speed in the backfield. We have to play fundamentally sound. We have to do our assignments, stay in our gaps and gang tackle. We have to do a good job of tackling in the open field."
Trevor Johnson, Hunter's cousin, has rushed for 917 yards and scored 15 TDs. He's averaging a stunning 19.5 yards per carry.
"We certainly have to control the line of scrimmage and slow down their running game," Green said of the Redbirds. "We have been preaching do your job all year long."
Darlington senior quarterback Jared Meister has passed for 441 yards with seven touchdowns. He hasn't thrown an interception this season and is completing 59.5 percent of his passes.
"They don't have to pass too much, but when they do it's successful because everyone is trying to slow down their running game," Green said.
Darlington has five shutouts on defense this season. However, they haven't seen an offense as balanced as the Vikings.
Pecatonica-Argyle has a balanced offense that averages 35.2 points per game, 208 rushing yards and 128 passing yards per game. Pecatonica-Argyle senior quarterback Logan Green has passed for 1,307 yards with 21 TDs and just four interceptions.
The top wide receiver for the Vikings is senior A.J. Hendrickson who has 36 receptions for 631 yards and 11 TDs. Hendrickson is averaging 17.5 yards per catch and is a big-play threat.
"They have the ability to run and throw the ball," Zywicki said of the Vikings. "They have some really good athletes on the perimeter. It will be a challenge for our defense. They are the best team we have seen in a long time. They play a ton of various formations and try to get you out of position."
Senior running back Collin Argue has rushed for 958 yards and has eight TDs. Argue also has 14 receptions for 306 yards and five TDs out of the backfield.
The Vikings may be the most balanced offense the Redbirds have faced this season.
"I think it makes us tougher to prepare for when we have a balanced offense passing and rushing attack," Green said. "They have athletes all over the field. They are big on the line and that makes them difficult to run on. We have to get a little bit lower and run the ball."
