Second-ranked St. Joseph (Mont.) seized its first lead of the game on Nathan Bailey’s 35-yard run in the third quarter and would not let go.
Quarterback Lamar Best added to the lead later in the period and then the defense thwarted a late drive by No. 1 Don Bosco Prep to pull off a 24-21 upset and position itself for a likely top ranking in the final Top 20. It was the first state championship for the Knights since claiming the Non-Public A title in 2018.
Below are the five players who shined the brightest during the Non-Public A final.
Nathan Bailey, St. Joseph, Sr., RB
Bailey carried 10 times for 50 yards and scored the Knights’ go-ahead touchdown on a 35-yard that forged a 17-14 lead with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter. He was a prolific ground gainer in the playoffs with 211 yards and seven touchdowns on 35 carries over three games.
Dante DeLuca, Don Bosco Prep, Sr., RB
DeLuca carried 19 times for a game-high 79 yards and one touchdown, a 3-yard run that pulled the Ironmen to within 24-21 with 4:56 left in the game. He ran 141 times for 607 yards ands six touchdowns this season and closed out his career with 1,846 yards and 24 TDs on 406 attempts.
Stalin Knowlden, St. Joseph, Jr., WR
He hauled in five passes from Lamar Best for 75 yards and one touchdown, a 38-yard play that tied the game at 7-7 with 2:14 to go in the first quarter. It was the second touchdown in as many games and the fourth in the last five games for Knowlden, who closed his season with 35 receptions for 457 yards and five touchdowns.
KJ McClain, St. Joseph, Sr., DB
McClain had a hand in a season-high seven tackles and he recovered a fumble on a kickoff that set up a touchdown run by Lamar Best for a 24-14 lead with 4:45 to go in the third quarter. McClain had generated six takles Oct. 31 in the Knights’ 31-14 victory over DePaul.
Carson Schoen, Don Bosco Prep, So., QB
Schoen completed 12-of-24 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown against constant pressure. He opened the scoring with a 50-yard pass to Isaiah Alvarez 1:20 into the game, and his 12-yard pass to Matthew Courtney gave Bosco a first-and-goal at the four to set the stage for a 3-yard run by Dante DeLuca to pull the team to within 24-21.
