Epic comeback sends St. Thomas Academy to the Prep Bowl

The St. Thomas Academy Cadets couldn't do anything right through a quarter and a half to start their AAAAA state semi-final game against the Alexandra Cardinals. The offensive line was getting pushed into the backfield. Their pass rush wasn't getting home, and their defensive backs were literally falling down, letting Cardinals' receivers roam the secondary. Down 23-0, the Cadets looked dead in the water.   Then, like a light switch being flipped on, the Cadets started to resemble the team that won nine games this season. The defense would not allow another point until the JV gave up a late touchdown that changed nothing but the final score, and the offense went on to score 42 straight points en route to a 42-30 win that was not as close as the final score would indicate.   After picking up one first down, the Cadets had to punt the ball away to open the game. Alexandria took advantage of a Cadets' defensive back tripping down the field to connect on a 61-yard touchdown pass. The Cadets would try to pick up a first down on a reverse, but the Cardinals' defense wasn't fooled, and the Cadets were punting again. They couldn't get off the field on a third and eight, and then they were hit with a pass interference penalty, leading to a short touchdown pass and a 13-0 hole.   Things got even worse for STA when they fumbled deep in their own territory. The defense couldn't get off the field again on third and long – leading to a short touchdown run for the Cardinals. Another turnover – this time an interception – led to the first positive thing for the Cadets all game. They allowed the Cardinals to move the ball but finally got a third down stop, forcing a 29-yard field goal. Up 23-0, the Cardinals would not score again until STA had put the game out of reach.   The Cadets turned to the short passing game to finally get some momentum on offense. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='607249' first='Maximus' last='Sims'] found wide receiver Luke Dobbs on a deep crossing route for their first points of the game. The defense would hold again, but the Cardinals would pin the Cadets inside the ten-yard line late in the first half.   Until now, star running back [player_tooltip player_id='105372' first='Savion' last='Hart'] had been mostly bottled up. He ran for a decent average but had not made any explosive runs. That changed in a hurry. Hart took a handoff up the middle and broke into the clear. He would not be stopped until he was knocked down inside the ten-yard line. Hart would score one play later, and we had a ball game just like that.   Alexandria had enough time to get into field goal range and go into the half up two scores but missed a field goal late in the half.   Fresh off their stop at the end of the half, the Cadets' defense was an entirely different animal – starting with the first drive of the half. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1201980' first='Michael' last='Kelecic'] stuffed an inside run, defensive back Charles Probst made a solid open field tackle, and then Probst tipped a pass on the next play, leading to an interception by fellow defensive back Charlie Kern.   After a disastrous quarter and a half where they were getting pushed around, the Cadets' offensive line started to get some traction late in the first half and imposed their will coming out of the first half locker room. Hart ran the ball well, scored his second touchdown, and added the two-point conversion to tie the game at 23.   STA would give up one first down, but that was it before the offense went back to work. Hart will deservedly get most of the offensive headlines, but the play of quarterback Sims should not be overlooked. His 69-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Avery Buckner gave the Cadets a lead they would not give back.   No one knew it at the time, but Alexandria's last chance to slow down the avalanche that was the St. Thomas Cadets ended with three straight outstanding plays by the defense to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard. Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='242375' first='Teddy' last='Knapp'] – who was a beast the entire game – made a tackle at the line of scrimmage. Kern then deflected a pass to set up a fourth down. The Cardinals would complete a crossing route, but defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1581587' first='Finn' last='Benz'] made an open-field tackle just short of the sticks.   Sims – who had good chemistry with Dobbs all game, found getting the ball to him in the second half more of a challenge. No problem. Tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1246747' first='Chase' last='Young'] made a leaping catch on a ball Sims threw when on the move – which he did repeatedly throughout the game. Sims returned to his tight end for a touchdown on the next play.   Behind a secondary that was nearly perfect in the second half, STA forced yet another three and out. With the Cadets' offensive line leaning on a Cardinals' front seven for most of the second half, it was clear the Cardinals' defense was gassed. Hart took advantage of that with a twenty-yard touchdown run that will make his next highlight package he sends out. Hart started left, found no room, turned back, and ran all the way across the field – bouncing off more than one tackler – before he could turn on the speed and get to the corner of the end zone for a game-sealing 20-yard touchdown run.   Down twenty-three points with just over six minutes to play in the first half, St. Thomas Academy's 42-30 win was one of the biggest turn-a-rounds I have seen in a long time – especially with so much on the line.

The St. Thomas Academy Cadets couldn't do anything right through a quarter and a half to start their AAAAA state semi-final game against the Alexandra Cardinals. The offensive line was getting pushed into the backfield. Their pass rush wasn't getting home, and their defensive backs were literally falling down, letting Cardinals' receivers roam the secondary. Down 23-0, the Cadets looked dead in the water.