Dawson Brown is a habitual smiler. After his one-for-the-ages performance in Becker’s 24-6 victory over DeLaSalle in the Class 4A championship game, it’s likely he may never frown again.

Brown, a senior safety, had a state-tournament record tying three interceptions, made nine tackles and added a sack, keying a Bulldogs’ defense that turned DeLaSalle’s thoroughbred offense into a team of plowhorses.

The Islanders were held to their lowest point total of the season, turned the ball over six times and totaled just 330 yards of offense.

“We came into this game knowing that they had more athletic players,” said defensive lineman Dillon Radunz. “It’s was [coach Dwight] Lundeen. He just told us that we were the better team. We lifted each other up and played like it.”

Wherever DeLaSalle went, there was Brown, a 6-2, 185-pound senior who played as if he’d peeked at the DeLaSalle game plan.

He blanketed receivers, manned the edges and made plays that the Islanders could not. And, for good measure, deflected any praise directed his way.

“The defensive line forces those plays,” Brown said, his smile fading to a sheepish grin. “It’s not much that I did. Our whole defense played good as a unit. It was a lot of fun.”

While the Becker defense was shutting down DeLaSalle, the Bulldogs offense was moving efficiently. With running back C.J. Schwintek gashing the Islanders for substantial gains and quarterback Michael Veldman deftly using all of the weapons at his disposal, the Bulldogs had DeLaSalle’s defense on its heels for much of the game.

“We have such a balanced team,” said Veldman, who completed 10 of 16 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. “We have our run set up our pass and, when they play the pass, we run.”

Becker didn’t score on every drive, but the drives it did complete were strategically important. The Bulldogs scored the first time they had the ball, taking a 6-0 lead, and again on their first possession of the second half, bumping a 12-0 halftime lead to 18-0 and deflating DeLaSalle’s hopes of a comeback.

“At halftime, we said that the next score was huge,” Lundeen said. “If they get that, it’s right back to a one-score game.”

The way the Becker defense was playing, it may not have made the difference.

Brown summed it up in his humble style: “Yeah, I think that was one of our better games.”

A sterling performance in all phases of the game led Becker to a 24-6 victory against DeLaSalle in the Class 4A Prep Bowl championship game.

The Bulldogs, whose only loss this season came by one point to Class 6A Minnetonka, led 12-0 at halftime. They stopped DeLaSalle inside the 20-yard line three times in the first half and posted five interceptions in the game.

Becker coach Dwight Lundeen finished his 45th season with a 328-145-3 record and the Bulldogs’ second Prep Bowl title. Becker’s first came in 2005.

Check back later for updates.