The Benilde-St. Margaret’s football team advanced to the Section 6AAAA semifinals with a 41-26 win over Park Center. Senior quarterback Ben Krebsbach led the team with a game-high of 132 yards rushing and one touchdown, while junior Kyle McCarthy rushed for 81 yards and scored three touchdowns.

On the Pirates first offensive play, junior Zach Silvestri forced a fumble and the Red Knight defense caused Park Center to punt on their next six possessions. On the second possession, after a 36-yard punt by senior Seth Marx, Park Center started from their own two-yard line and was limited to zero yards of offense on three plays.

The boys played well both offensively and defensively but will need to work hard to beat Fridley. “We played well in all facets of the game against PC, but now Fridley is in our way. It’s time to get on that roller coaster and ride it all the way to the Dome,” said Marx.

BSM started their first drive on the Pirate 23-yard line, thanks to senior Bailey Dodds’ punt return. Krebsbach rushed on the first play to the right side for a touchdown, giving the Red Knights a 7-0 lead.

On the Red Knight’s third possession, McCarthy rushed nine yards to score his first touchdown, giving the team a 13-0 lead to end the half. After giving up an interception just a minute into the second half, Park Center was forced to turn the ball over on downs at the Red Knight 25-yard line.

On an eight-play, 75-yard drive, Krebsbach found senior receiver Peter Crawford in the back corner of the end zone for the Red Knights third touchdown. The two teams combined to score touchdowns in just under 13 minutes, accounting for 54 of the games 67 points.

McCarthy scored on runs of 9, 12 and 15 yards while senior Chase Mlnarik finished off BSM’s last drive carrying the ball 38 yards on six consecutive plays, and scoring on one-yard rush. Krebsbach threw for 125 yards and had his third 100-yard rushing game out of his last four games.

Senior Dee Williamson led the defense with ten tackles, three of those for loss, while Silvestri had nine tackles and forced two fumbles.

“We played well as a team and we look to improve as the playoffs go on. We’re going to have to play a lot better if we plan on making it to the Metrodome,” said McCarthy. Benilde-St. Margaret’s will advance to the section semifinals to face the Fridley Tigers, who gave the Red Knights their second loss earlier this season, at 1 p.m. on October 31 at Fridley High School.