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5A: McFadden's five touchdowns lead St. Thomas Academy past Tartan

By JACK SATZINGER, Special to the Star Tribune, 11/10/18, 2:30PM CST

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The Cadets fell behind at the outset but recovered and rolled behind running back Brendan McFadden to a 35-14 victory.

St. Thomas Academy senior Brendan McFadden bursts into the Tartan secondary in a Class 5A state quarterfinal Saturday afternoon. McFadden scored five touchdowns in the Cadets' 35-14 victory over the Titans. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

St. Thomas Academy senior Brendan McFadden bursts into the Tartan secondary in a Class 5A state quarterfinal Saturday afternoon. McFadden scored five touchdowns in the Cadets' 35-14 victory over the Titans. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

For a brief moment Saturday, St. Thomas Academy’s undefeated season appeared to be in question.

Tartan senior Zach Meyer reeled in a 32-yard touchdown pass to put his team up 6-0 at Shakopee West Junior High School. Then Cadets running back Brendan McFadden fumbled the ball on his first run of the game.

But St. Thomas Academy (11-0) responded emphatically, besting Tartan 35-14 to advance to the 5A state semifinal.

“It credits the senior leadership on the team,” McFadden said of the Cadets’ resiliency. “It all started last spring when coach [Dan O’Brien] came in and kind of set the tone for what we wanted to be as a team. It speaks volumes to what kind of a coach he is.”

St. Thomas Academy wide receiver Joe Deyak pulls in a reception despite double coverage from the Tartan defense. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

St. Thomas Academy wide receiver Joe Deyak pulls in a reception despite double coverage from the Tartan defense. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

First report

For a brief moment Saturday, St. Thomas Academy’s undefeated season appeared to be in question.

Tartan senior Zach Meyer reeled in a 32-yard touchdown pass to put his team up 6-0 at Shakopee West Junior High School. Then teammate Brock Bertelsen recovered a Cadets fumble.

But St. Thomas Academy (11-0) responded emphatically, besting Tartan 35-14 to advance to the 5A state semifinal.

The Cadets' defense stiffened after Tartan (8-3) took the lead, allowing just one more touchdown late n the game.

Offensively, senior running back Brendan McFadden led the Cadets with five rushing touchdowns.

Mendota Heights-based St. Thomas Academy advances to play Nov. 17 in the semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium The Cadets will play the winner of the game Saturday night in St. Cloud between Bemidji and Cambridge-Isanti. 

Check back later for more on the game.

Tartan's Zach Meyer scores on a 32-yard reception in the first quarter against St. Thomas Academy. The  Titans fell to the Cadets in the Class 5A state quarterfinals 35-14. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Tartan's Zach Meyer scores on a 32-yard reception in the first quarter against St. Thomas Academy. The Titans fell to the Cadets in the Class 5A state quarterfinals 35-14. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

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