By Michael DUMANSKY

As the Golden Knights look to enter week six on the schedule, the players, coaches and fans have to be pretty optimistic about their chances to win the Angelus League. Saint Francis, (4-1, 0-0) coming off a respectable 28-7 win on the road against Saugus, were looking to build on the team chemistry as well as the overall defensive effort against Harvard-Westlake (2-4, 0-0) on Friday night.

The Golden Knights utilized their running game early when senior running back Kevin Armstead muscled his way into the endzone with a seven-yard touchdown at the 7:20 mark. For Harvard-Westlake, the mishaps would begin early as the Golden Knight defense forced a fumble early. Junior Matt Buntich forced a fumble on running back Charlie Wang. The Golden Knights then obtained possession on the Wolverines’ 40-yard line, giving the offense good field position. 

Not long after, the Knights struck again as junior quarterback Jack Cloughtery hit Evan Jernagan on the 16-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-0.

The Golden Knights’ defense continued to apply pressure as Wolverine quarterback Marshall Howe threw for 120-yards, one touchdown and an interception.   

At 1:54 of the first quarter, Cloughtery found Bryson Reeves for the nine-yard touchdown. As Harvard-Westlake tried to get things going, quarterback Marshall Howe was picked off by senior safety Mikey Kane at the Wolverine 30-yard line. At the second quarter, Armstead punched it in for a touchdown to extend the lead to 28-0.

Harvard-Westlake again went three-and-out and was forced to punt on their own 15-yard line. The punt was run all the way back by Bryson Reeves for a 50-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 35-0.

The Knights forced another punt by the Wolverines’ offense on the next drive and, at the 6:27 mark, Cloughtery found Reeves for a 36-yard heave to put the game out of reach. Saint Francis would get the ball back with under a minute of play and would capitalize again when Cloughtery hit Matthew Buntich on an 18-yard touchdown. That would be Cloughtery’s fourth touchdown pass making it a season high.

“We did well, we started off on offense moving the ball on the ground well, the receivers did a great job getting open tonight and the offensive line had a great pass block which gave me plenty of room to pass,” said Clougherty about the season high performance on offense.

At the beginning of the third quarter, coach Jime Bonds decided to have the second and third stringers play to gain some experience.

Sophomore running back Myles Shannon broke three tackles to fight for a 26-yard touchdown with 6:26 left in the game. Shannon became the final Golden Knight to score in the game.

Cloughtery threw a season-high in touchdowns with four and 212 yards.

Saint Francis will play Mayfair at 7 p.m. at home on Friday, Oct. 4.

  Michael DUMANSKY