Knights win big in Texas series

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High got to open its season Monday night at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and the Knights’ football trip turned out to be a productive one.

Running back Kenny Boggs scored three touchdowns, and quarterback Ryan Kasdorf completed his first nine passes and finished 16 for 24 for 193 yards and one touchdown to help the Knights defeat Spring (Texas) Klein Oak, 37-7.

Notre Dame players wanted to be a good representative for California high school football, and they executed on both sides of the ball, limiting their mistakes while relying on their spread offense to control the clock and the game.

Boggs, a 5-foot-7 returning starter, began the scoring for Notre Dame with a nine-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Klein Oak tied the game with a 25-yard touchdown reception by Tory Waites in the second quarter.

But the Knights used a trick play to respond. Kasdorf fired a pass behind the line of scrimmage to Tyler Thomas near the right sideline, and he threw the ball back to Kasdorf near the left sideline. Kasdorf took the ball into the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown while being escorted by five blockers to give Notre Dame a 14-7 halftime lead.

Turning in a strong performance on defense for the Knights was senior linebacker Wayne Swinson.

On hand to provide support was Cowboys kicker Nick Folk, a Notre Dame grad.

It was the fourth game played Monday at Cowboys Stadium as part of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series. Notre Dame, ranked No. 6 by The Times, won’t have much time to celebrate because the Knights are supposed to return to Southern California this morning to prepare for a Saturday night game against Moorpark.

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com