The Benilde-St. Margaret’s football team faced off against DeLaSalle––ranked number one in class 4A––for the section semifinals on October 27, but lost 26-24, failing to upset the Islanders undefeated record. The Red Knights were led by senior running back Garrett Haughey’s 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and junior quarterback Keaton Studsrud’s 200 yards of total offense.
The Red Knights started the scoring off for the night when Studsrud found senior captain Mikey Koller for a 35 yard touchdown pass. DeLaSalle countered with a nine yard touchdown run from junior running back Chris Williams.
Islander quarterback, Reid Travis, found his junior wide receiver James Lawson for a 79 yard connection giving the Islanders a 14-6 lead. Studsrud rushed for a touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion left the at score 14-12.
Travis and Lawson connected again from 43 yards out and the Islanders led 20-12 going into halftime. Lawson received two passes for 122 yards, both going for touchdowns. DeLaSalle quarterback Reid Travis threw for 196 yards with two touchdowns and rushing for another score.
Garrett Haughey, replacing injured senior Thomas Gorrilla, had his first of two rushing touchdowns with a 20 yard run in the third quarter. The Red Knights went for the two-point attempt, but were unable to convert leaving the score at 20-18 going into the fourth quarter.
The Red Knights and Islanders traded possessions in the fourth quarter, but, eventually, DeLaSalle found an opportunity and Travis ran in from one yard to give the Islanders a 26-18 lead. Another failed conversion, this time by the Islanders, gave the Red Knights hope during one last drive.
The Red Knights drove down and Studsrud converted two key third downs and with one minute left Haughey ran for his second touchdown and made the score 26-24 with the two-point conversion pending.
Studsrud received the ball for the attempt but was tackled a yard short and the Islanders retained the lead. The Red Knights’ onside kick attempt was recovered by the Islanders and preserved a 26-24 victory for DeLaSalle. The Red Knights finish the season with a 5-5 record.
