St. Thomas quarterback Baker Reding (11) tossed the ball to running back Danny McFadden (2) in the first half. Photo: ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com
For three quarters on Friday, St. Thomas Academy didn’t generate much offense against a Mahtomedi team that it handily defeated in 2018 and 2019.
But the Cadets found their offensive groove in the fourth quarter, tying the score on a 50-yard touchdown run by Danny McFadden with 3:18 left in regulation. They capped off the rally in overtime in a 27-21 victory over the Zephyrs.
McFadden scored twice, including the game-winning 2-yard run in the fourth overtime. Grady O’Neill scored the Cadets’ first touchdown of the game and Baker Reding added one in overtime. The Cadets (3-0) are ranked second in the latest Class 5A poll.
“Any time you get two teams in the top 10, you never know what’s going to happen,” third-year St. Thomas Academy coach Dan O’Brien said. “It wasn’t pretty, but it counts the same.
Eighth-ranked Mahtomedi (2-1) took the lead on its first possession, with quarterback Johnny DeVore and wide receiver Ethan Loss connecting for a 44-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter. Hampered by penalties, neither team produced much offense for the rest of the first half or the third quarter.
Danny McFadden scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth overtime after a defensive stop to lead St. Thomas Academy over Mahtomedi 27-21.
Grady O'Neill scored once and McFadden scored three times for the Cadets (3-0), who never led in regulation in the game Friday in Mendota Heights.
Johnny DeVore, Jacob Wynia and Ethan Loss scored for the Zephyrs (2-1).
Check back later for more on the game.