Recap: After struggling with a slow start, St. Thomas Academy scored 28 unanswered points — 22 in a 5-minute, 45-second stretch in the second half — and cruised to a berth in the Class 5A state tournament. Quarterback Andrew Tri connected on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Sean McFadden and scored another touchdown on a 6-yard run. The Cadets forced three turnovers to slow an Eagles offense that showed the ability to pick up yards in a hurry.

Key to the game: St. Thomas scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions to start the second half — all while Apple Valley ran just two plays from scrimmage. The Cadets opened the third quarter with a 6½-minute scoring drive. The Eagles took the ensuing kickoff and fumbled on their second play. After another St. Thomas touchdown, Apple Valley fumbled on the kickoff. Three plays later, the Cadets’ Dan Gehrz scored on an 18-yard run, and the rout was on.

Quote: “Our offensive line just started controlling everything, making huge holes and giving us plenty of time. [The backs] didn’t have to do a lot of work.” — Cadets senior QB Andrew Tri

One thing to know: Beyond losing three fumbles, the Eagles also squandered three trips inside the Cadets 30-yard line. They turned it over on downs twice — once in the first quarter and once on fourth-and-goal from the 9 in the fourth quarter — and missed a field goal in the second quarter.

BRYCE EVANS

After a slow start, St. Thomas Academy scored 28 unanswered points — 22 in a five-minute, 45-second stretch in the second half — and cruised to a 35-14 victory over Apple Valley and a berth in the Class 5A state tournament.

Quarterback Andrew Tri threw for one touchdown and ran for another, The Cadets forced three turnovers to slow an Eagle offense that started the night with a flurry of first downs.

Apple Valley led 7-0 after a first quarter touchdown run by Mario Lewis.

Then the Cadets started rolling.

Tri hit Sean McFadden on an 8-yard touchdown pass to complete a 12-play, 92-yard drive that took up 4:56 of the second quarter to cut the lead to 7-6.

The Cadets opened the second half with a 69-yard, 6-and-a-half-minute touchdown drive. Apple Valley fumbled on its second play from scrimmage near midfield and St. Thomas Academy wasted little time in driving 48 yards for another score — this one on a 6-yard run by Tri.

Apple Valley then fumbled on the ensuing kickoff. St. Thomas recovered at the Eagle 20 and took less than a minute to score its fourth touchdown of the game on an 18-yard run by Dan Gehrz.

The Eagles scored late in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard pass from Noah Sanders to Shane Sande.

Apple Valley lost three fumbles and squandered three trips inside the Cadet 30-yard line. The Eagles turned over the ball on downs twice -- once in the first quarter, and once on 4th-and-goal from the 9-yard line in the fourth -- and missed a field goal in the second quarter.

Check back later for more on the game.