Becker Beats DeLaSalle 24-6 For Class 4A Title

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A solid defensive performance powered Becker to its second state football championship.

C.J. Schwintek ran for 146 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs beat DeLaSalle 24-6 Friday in the Prep Bowl, winning the Class 4A state football championship.

Dawson Brown tied a Prep Bowl record by intercepting three DeLaSalle passes. Tyler Thorson picked off two more as the Becker defense forced six turnovers. The Bulldogs (12-1) won their last championship in 2005.

"If you turn the ball over six times there's almost no way you're going to win," said Becker coach Dwight Lundeen.

Billy Hart threw for 194 yards and one touchdown for the Islanders (11-2), who entered the contest averaging 49.9 points per game. DeLaSalle was 0 for 11 on third downs.

Marquise Bridges, who tied a Prep Bowl record with 12 receptions, had a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

DeLaSalle, a private Minneapolis school, is a rare high school team that gets more yards through the air than on the ground. But the Bulldogs defense did a good job of controlling the mobile Hart. The senior finished 19 of 38 with three interceptions before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injury. Nick Weber was 4 of 8 with two interceptions.

"Our defensive line did such a good job of getting pressure inside," Brown said. "We wanted to keep him in the pocket." Becker had three sacks.

Michael Veldman, who threw for 163 yards, and Matt Conzemius connected on a 19-yard score for an 18-0 Becker lead early in the third quarter.

The score came after Brown's first interception.

"He was amazing," Lundeen said. "What a way to go out on a big stage."

Beau Pauly scored from 3 yards out later in the frame to make it 24-0.

"We're such a balanced team that we want to use the run to open up the pass ... we're dynamic, we can do it all," said Veldman, who was 10 of 16 with one interception.

A 4-yard run by Veldman gave the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Schwintek doubled that lead with a 13-yard touchdown run in the second.

DeLaSalle twice had the ball inside the Becker 5-yard line in the second quarter but came away with no points.

Blake Barthel sacked Hart to end one threat and a diving Isaac Hodge couldn't hold onto a pass from Hart late in the quarter.

"Coach said we may not be the best at 22 positions, but we came and played our hearts out," Schwintek said.

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