St. Thomas Academy’s defense might have saved the Cadets’ season.

Mahtomedi’s precise running attack put the Zephyrs in position to hand St. Thomas Academy another close loss, but the Cadets’ defense made a late-game stand to preserve a 12-7 victory Friday at St. Thomas Academy.

“This is the turning point of our year,” Cadets’ running back Nick Motzel said. “I’ll look back on this year and I’ll look at this game as the biggest game of our year.”

The victory is St. Thomas Academy biggest of the year because it give the Cadets’ confidence they can win close games. Both of the team’s loss this season have been by a total of five points.

St. Thomas Academy (4-2, 3-2) need a big performance from its defense to turn the tide against the Zephyrs (2-4, 2-3).

Senior quarterback Ryan Barnes and senior running back Nick Motzel both scored on 1-yard runs in the second quarter to give the Cadets a 12-0 lead. St. Thomas Academy could have increased its advantage but failed to convert on either of its two-point attempts.

Despite trailing, Mahtomedi continued pounding away with its rushing attack. The commitment paid off as the Zephyrs capped a 12-play scoring driving with a touchdown pass set up by their running game. Junior running back Lucas Buller took the handoff but stopped and hit senior wide receiver Jackson Bell on a 14-yard pass in the end zone, helping cut the Cadets’ lead to 12-7.

Mahtomedi held St. Thomas Academy’s offense in check on the ensuing possession, forcing the Cadets to punt after three plays.

The Zephyrs again marched down the field and had a first-and-goal from St. Thomas Academy’s 9-yard line.

Cadets’ senior linebacker Jack Sorenson knew the defense needed to make a stand to keep Mahtomedi from reaching the end zone.

“Bend, don’t break,” Sorenson said. “That’s what we say all the time. Give up big plays and we come right back.”

The Cadets didn’t break as they kept the Zephyrs from gaining another yard and forced Mahtomedi to throw an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-goal to end the scoring threat.

St. Thomas Academy head coach Dave Ziebarth said he had confidence in his defense’s ability keep the Zephyrs from scoring.

“They were just determined not let that happen,” Ziebarth said.

The Cadets entered the game holding opponents to 177 rushing yards per game and limited Mahtomedi’s potent ground game to 152 rushing yards.

“They are really precise and they really pound the ball well and they know how to block it,” Ziebarth said.

Ziebarth also praised his team for its victory over Mahtomedi despite the Zephyrs late rally.

“They didn’t quit and they just kept going,” he said. “I’m really proud of the kids. They played great defensively.”

Senior quarterback Ryan Barnes and senior running back Nick Motzel each had a rushing touchdown as St. Thomas Academy held on for 12-7 victory over Mahtomedi in a Metro East Conference clash Friday at St. Thomas Academy.

Barnes scored on a 1-yard run with 7:25 remaining the second quarter while Motzel’s 5-yard rushing touchdown five minutes later gave the Cadets (4-2, 3-2) a 12-0 lead after St. Thomas Academy failed on both of its two-point conversion attempts.

The Zephyrs (2-4, 2-3) rallied in the third quarter as junior running back Lucas Buller took a handoff and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jackson bell, cutting the deficit to 12-7.

Mahtomedi had a chance to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter, marching to the Cadets’ 9-yard line but could not convert on fourth-and-goal.

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