EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday throughout the calendar year.
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal / Fennimore Times / Boscobel Dial
Breylin Goebel, Sr., QB/LB, Darlington football
Darlington senior Breylin Goebel did a little bit of everything to help the Rebirds top #3-ranked Kewaunee 34–28 in last Friday's WIAA Division 6 Level 4 playoff game to earn the program's 13th trip to state and first in seven years.
Goebel completed 7 of 13 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 32 yards on 10 carries and recorded six tackles and three forced fumbles to lead the Redbirds (12–1) to victory over the previously unbeaten Storm (12–1).
Goebel opened the scoring with shot a pass to Reagan Jackson, who turned and sprinted 24 yards for the touchdown. Denilo Ramos-Godoy’s (2-for-3 XP) PAT sailed through the uprights, tying the game at seven points with 7:07 left in the first quarter.
On the first play of the following drive, Goebel forced a fumble, and Jackson was there to scoop up the recovery. The Storm brought him down at Kewaunee’s 19-yard line. The Redbirds’ first play off the turnover was a successful Goebel pass to Will Murray down to the 5-yard line. Crist crashed into the end zone three plays later. Ramos-Godoy’s second PAT found its mark, giving the Redbirds a 14-7 lead with 5:50 left in the first quarter.
On a fourth-down attempt late in the first half, Murray snagged Breylin Goebel’s pass out of the air, giving Darlington a first down 16 yards from the end zone with 53 seconds left in the half. Then two plays later, he threw a 15-yard pass to Maddox Goebel with 30 seconds left in the half to pull Darlington with a point at 21–20.
After Goebel forced another fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Kewaunee's Carlson snagged the ball out of midair and raced 75 yards for a 28–20 Strom lead going into halftime.
The Redbirds got the ball to open the third quarter at Kewaunee’s 42-yard line. The Storm remained stout, stopping Crist at the line of scrimmage on his third-down rush. Rather than punting, Darlington opted to pass on fourth down and Breylin Goebel found Maddox Goebel, who sprinted to the Kewaunee 24-yard line. On the next play, Breylin Goebel connected with Murray for an immediate first down. Maddox Goebel found the end zone moments later on the ground from two yards out.
Goebel forced his third fumble of the game to stop Kewaunee's next drive deep in Darlington territory. The Darlington offense put together a long drive, but was eventually forced to punt, and pinned Kewaunee at its own 18-yard line.
A few plays later, Brady Long returned an interception 29 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Goebel connected with Will Murray for the 2-point conversion, as the Redbirds claimed a 34–28 lead with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Brady Long, Sr., WR/DB, Darlington football
Long returned an interception 29 yards for the eventual game-winning touchdown with 12 seconds left in the third quarter of last Friday's 34–28 victory over #3-ranked Kewaunee in a WIAA Division 6 Level 4 playoff victory. Long also had four tackles in the win.
Lane Marty, Sr., RB/DB, Black Hawk/Warren football
Marty rushed for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns on 32 carries, and recorded four tackles to lead the #7 Warriors to a dominating 36–7 victory over #5 Reedsville (12–1) in last Friday's WIAA Division 7 Level 4 game.
