St. Louis Catholic head coach Charlie Cryer wanted to slow down South Beauregard’s offense, but his defense all but completely stopped the Golden Knights Thursday in a 30-6 Saints win at Cougar Stadium.

The Saints (3-3, 1-0) held the usually potent Knights rushing attack to a season-low 150 yards. South Beauregard (5-1, 0-1) wasn’t able to reach the end zone until a 2-yard Shea Holland touchdown run with 1:23 left in the game.

“I thought the defense played very well,” Cryer said. “They came in with a lot of intensity and took it to them. They have played good all year but they have really been rolling these past two weeks. Defense wins championships and that’s what we’re leaning on right now.”

“We came out with full intensity and treated the game like it was 0-0 the whole time,” said Saints senior free safety Jacob Percle. “We have been focused all week on trying to stop that great running game South Beauregard has.”

The Saints forced six turnovers, five on fumbles.

The final turnover came midway through the fourth quarter when the Knights had driven deep into St. Louis territory and Percle intercepted a Hayden Gunter pass in the end zone.

“It felt great to make that play but everything each of us does is for the team,” Percle said. “After I came down with it we were all excited for our team as a whole.”

Percle also recovered a pair of fumbles.

The Saints drove back down field to ice the game with their final touchdown on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Bailey Hardy to Austin Crawford.

In addition to stellar play from their defense, the Saints dominated the battle of field position with their kicking game. Michael Mack got a touchback on all but one of his kickoffs and averaged 43 yards per punt.

Mack also made three field goals from 37, 45 and 43 yards out.

“That was so big for us,” Cryer said. “No matter who you are, it’s hard to drive 80 yards every time you get the football.”

The win was the second in a row for the Saints.

“Our district is very good and you have to come to play every week,” Cryer said.”To beat South Beauregard is huge and that’s a feather in our caps.”

“This gives us a huge confidence boost heading into another big game with Iowa next week,” Percle added.

Hardy completed 13 of 23 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown in his second start.

Crawford caught five of those passes for 60 yards.

Colby Rodriguez picked up the other two St. Louis touchdowns on the ground. He finished with 97 yards on 25 carries.

Holland led the way for the Knights with 99 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

Jansen Fontenot caught two passes for 63 yards.

(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman