WESTBY – Friday’s storms didn’t strike in time to disrupt Darlington’s season opener, but there was still plenty of lightning striking all around Westby’s new football field during the game.

Senior cousins Trevor Johnson and Hunter Johnson combined to rush for 440 yards on just 15 carries and scored six touchdowns– five on runs past the midfield stripe– to lead the Redbirds to a 48-7 non-conference victory over the host Norsemen on Friday, Aug. 19.

All told, the Redbirds (1-0 overall) ran for 501 yards and seven scores en route to a 48-0 halftime lead. They would finish the game with an eye-popping 569 rushing yards on 36 attempts (15.8 ypc.). T. Johnson ran six times for 246 yards and four TDs, while H. Johnson toted the ball nine times for 194 yards and two TDs and junior fullback Tyler Mosley added 64 yards on six carries with one TD.

T. Johnson got the ball rolling for the Redbirds by hitting pay dirt on four of his first five carries. He scored on runs of 59, 75 and 26 yards in the first quarter to put the ‘Birds up 21-0, and then struck again from 78 yards out with 9:09 remaining in the second quarter to make it 27-0.

H. Johnson got into the scoring act on Darlington’s next two drives, ripping off scoring jaunts of 58 and 73 yards to extend the lead to 41-0.

Mosley closed the half with an 11-yard TD run to make it 48-0 at the intermission.

The Norsemen (0-1) avoided being shutout in the debut on their home field thanks to quarterback Alex Gluch’s 45-yard TD run with 3:36 to play in the game.

The Redbirds outgained Westby on the ground, 569-118, while the Norsemen held the advantage through the air, 48-0, as the ‘Birds did not attempt a pass in the game.

Darlington returns home to host Prairie du Chien (1-0) at Martens Field on Friday, Aug. 26, starting at 7 p.m. The defending Southwest Wisconsin Conference champion Blackhawks topped Aquinas, 48-34 in overtime, in their opener last Friday night.

Darlington… 21  27  0  0 – 48

Westby…….   0    0  0  7 –   7

D – Trevor Johnson, 59 run (Connor McGowan kick)

D – T. Johnson, 75 run (McGowan kick)

D – T. Johnson, 26 run (McGowan kick)

D – T. Johnson, 78 run (kick failed)

D – Hunter Johnson, 58 run (McGowan kick)

D – H. Johnson, 73 run (McGowan kick)

D – Tyler Mosley, 11 run (McGowan kick)

P – Bergdahl, 45 run (Olson kick) 

Team Stats: First Downs– D 9; W 6. Rushing– D 36-569; W 29-118. Passing– D 0-0-0, 0; W 5-12-1, 48. Fumbles-Lost– D 1-1; W 1-1. Penalties– D 5-40, W 5-40.

Darlington: Rushing (Att-Yds-Td)– Trevor Johnson, 6-246-4; Hunter Johnson, 9-194-2. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Td-Yds)– Jared Meister, 0-0-0-0, 0. Receiving (Cat-Yds-Td)– None.