By ADAM COULTER
Salina Post Contributor
As part of a grandparents and alumni weekend, Sacred Heart notched its first win of the season by blanking Belle Plaine 40-0.
The Knights scored on each of their first two offensive possessions and that turned out to be more than enough to defeat the Dragons.
Michael Matteucci opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run followed by an Evan Bogart 15-yard rush to make the score 13-0 at the end of the opening quarter.
At the 4:20 mark of the second quarter, Bryson Gotti picked off a Tristan Wasser pass attempt to set up the next scoring play for the Knights.
Returning after an early injury, Cam Cleveland rushed 31 yards for the third Knights touchdown with 3:30 remaining in the second quarter.
After regaining possession, it took just 30 seconds for Sacred Heart to notch its fourth and final first-half touchdown. Another long run from Cleveland, followed by Bogart's second rushing score of the night put the Knights on top 26-0 with 57 seconds before halftime.
As it turned out, a pair of freshmen accounted for both second-half scores for the Knights.
Noah Hine's 21-yard touchdown reception from Matteucci and Luka Adami PAT extended the Sacred Heart advantage to 33-0 through three quarters.
Backup quarterback Maddox Wells capped off the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown carry at the 9:04 mark of the final quarter. Another Adami PAT made the final tally 40-0 in favor of the Knights.
Sacred Heart goes back on the road and will face Valley Heights next Friday night. Once again, the game can be heard and seen at salinapost.com.
Pregame is scheduled for 6:40 followed by a 7pm kickoff from Blue Rapids.