Knights get back to .500 with 38-21 win over Benson

Sam Peterson

Grant County Herald

After two straight losses, the West Central Area football squad got back in the winning column with a 38-21 win over the Benson Braves in Barrett Oct. 6. Thanks to a 100-plus rushing day from Sam Hanson, the Knights were able to get up early and coast their way to a comfortable win to improve to 3-3 this season.

The game did not start in favor of the Knights. After their offense stalled, they punted the ball to Benson, who returned the punt 43 yards for a touchdown and went up 7-0. Later in the first, WCA jumped back in front with an 11-yard touchdown run from Brady Lindquist and after a successful two-point conversion, they led 8-7 after one quarter.

The Knights took a stranglehold on the game in the second quarter. A two-yard touchdown run from Sam Hanson and Brady Lindquist’s second rushing touchdown from five yards out made it 24-7 at the halftime break.

WCA stretched the lead again in the third quarter when Sam Hanson ran in his second touchdown from 21 yards out to make it 30-7 going into the fourth quarter. 

Benson finally scored an offensive touchdown to start the fourth and make it 30-13. WCA put the game out of reach for good with a 14-yard pass from Brady Lindquist to Ben Bye made it 38-13. The Braves scored one more touchdown before the clock struck zero to make the final score 38-21.

The Knights finished the game with exactly twice as many yards as the Braves in the game. WCA finished with 276 yards of total offense, 213 on the ground and 63 through the air. Benson totaled 138 yards of offense with 128 on the ground and 10 through the air. WCA also had the advantage on third down, converting 6 of 13 and Benson was only 2 for 9. 

Hanson was the best offensive weapon for the Knights, finishing with 22 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Brady Lindquist carried the ball 15 times for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Adam Lohse added three carries for 20 yards.

The Knights did not have a tone of success through the air. Brady Lindquist finished 7 for 17 for 63 yards and a touchdown. Bye caught five passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. 

Hanson was also the leader on defense with a team high eight tackles, Grant Lindquist and Alan Pederson secured six tackles, Brady Lindquist and Will Rustan chipped in with five. The Knights forced three turnovers as a defense with Hanson, Sam Olson and Jackson Nadgwick all recovered fumbles. 

The next game on the schedule for WCA is on the road against Browerville/Eagle Valley on Friday, October 13.