BSM vs Richfield: Defensive standouts

There is no doubt the Benilde-St. Margaret’s defense was the unit that was most responsible for the Knights playing this Saturday. Their <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/10/bsm-perfectly-bookends-a-playoff-victory/">shutout of the Richfield Spartans</a> was an impressive accomplishment – especially as an underdog on the road. Here are some of the players on both teams who excelled on Tuesday night. <strong>Ryan Sever Benilde-St. Margaret’s LB<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/Sever-crop-2389x1569-1635547494.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-225381 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/Sever-crop-2389x1569-1635547494-300x197.jpg" alt="Ryan Sever" width="300" height="197" /></a></strong> Sever was a problem all night. He scrapped down from his middle linebacker spot to make a tackle on the outside. He did it again for a tackle for a short gain. Sever stepped up and filled a hole with the hardest hit of the game on a three-yard run. After another tackle for a short gain, he put another highlight-reel hit on a runner a few yards downfield. The senior read a cutback and made the tackle for a short loss. His third and final highlight-reel hit was when he made a big hit covering a kickoff. <strong>Brady Wine Benilde-St. Margaret’s DB</strong> Wine started the game with some nice coverage on the outside. He broke a tackle and then used his speed to get up the field on a 30-yard punt return. Wine stopped the Spartans’ best chance to score by covering a wheel route, intercepting the pass on the goal line, and returning it down the sidelines for 73 yards.  He came up big in run support with a one-on-one tackle on the outside. Wine picked up his second interception of the game off a tipped pass late in the game. <strong>Payton Gustafson Richfield LB</strong> Gustafson made a tackle on the inside for a short gain. Later, he perfectly read a middle screen and made an open-field tackle. He stuffed another run on the inside for a short gain. <strong>Brian Banks Benilde-St. Margaret’s DL</strong> Banks was a force on the inside all game. Early on, he was in the backfield for a tackle for loss. Later, he forced the quarterback out of the pocket because of his pressure up the middle. Then, he beat his blocker clean to blow up a run. His pressure up the middle forced the quarterback into a teammate for a sack. Because of his pressure, Banks later forced the quarterback to throw off his back foot with more quick pressure up the middle. <strong>Mason Baldwin Benilde-St. Margaret’s DL</strong> Baldwin helped keep contain on the mobile [player_tooltip player_id="116264" first="Mitchell" last="January"] allowing teammates to make several tackles. Baldwin also forced a fumble. <strong>Brady Moore Richfield DL</strong> On third and short, Moore made a tackle for a short gain – preventing a first down. Later, he picked up a quarterback sack. He nearly doubled his sack total by running down the quarterback down from behind and forced a fumble. Late in the game, Moore recovered a fumble and then added one more tackle for loss. <strong>Will Peschel Benilde-St. Margaret’s LB</strong> Peschel read a swing pass and made a tackle in the open field for no gain. His quick pressure forced a quarterback scramble that resulted in no gain. He also made a tackle in the open field. <strong>Josh Drepaul Richfield DL</strong> Drepaul worked his way down the line of scrimmage to make a tackle for a short gain. Then, he put pressure on the quarterback leading to a teammate’s sack. He pressured the quarterback again, this time forcing a poor throw. Finally, he beat his blocker and got a tackle for a two-yard loss. [player_tooltip player_id="112050" first="Antonio" last="Fondren"] <strong>Benilde-St. Margaret’s LB</strong> First, Fondren put immediate pressure on the quarterback off the edge. Late in the game, he got his hands up and deflected a pass. <strong>Quick hits</strong> <strong>CJ Sauer Benilde-St. Margaret’s DL</strong> - tackle for loss, pass rush forced a bad throw that resulted in an interception <strong>Malcolm Peterson Richfield DB</strong> - tackle for a short gain, tackle for no gain <strong>Jake Runman Benilde-St. Margaret’s DB</strong> - tight coverage on a deep ball down the sidelines <strong>Ryan Kelleher Richfield</strong> - tackle prevented a first down <strong>Luke Fredin Benilde-St. Margaret’s DB</strong> - tight coverage on the outside <strong>Ryan Kelleher Richfield DB</strong> - tight coverage <strong>Andrew Wolfson Benilde-St. Margaret’s DB</strong> - two late interceptions <strong>Tyler Jake Richfield DB</strong> - tight coverage <strong>Gavin Rimarcik Richfield DL</strong> - tackle on the inside for a short gain <strong>Mason Frank Benilde-St. Margaret’s DL</strong> - quarterback sack <strong>Shannon Cook Richfield DB</strong> - tackle for a short gain, forced a punt