The 1st Friday night under the lights in 2011

 
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN - Tonight's game in the Classic Suburban Conference between the Saint Thomas Academy Cadets (1-0 Overall, 1-0 Classic Suburban) and the host Simley Spartans (0-1 Overall, 0-1 Classic Suburban) matched on paper what many people expected between the two cross-town teams. The Cadets came in the preseason ranked #2 team in Class AAAA and just missed making it to the Prep Bowl Championship last season before falling to eventual AAAA Champion Totino-Grace. Their 11-1 season a year ago left a lot to be desired for Head Coach Dave Ziebarth's team. On the contrast, the Spartans welcome first time Head Coach Rex King to the helm for a program he was a captain for as a player and an assistant coach a few runs over the last 10 years. Last season in Week 1, the Cadets at home defeated Simley 57-6 and tonight's outcome would end somewhat similar.

The Cadets scored two 1st Quarter touchdowns, one if by air and one if by ground. Senior Quarterback John Gould connected with Senior Wide Receiver Teddy Andrews for 10-yards to set the score at 7-0 at 8:14. On the contrary to follow that score, the Spartan offense sustained a nice long drive thanks to the play by Junior Quarterback Nick Wanzek. Wanzek carried the ball numerous times himself and moved the ball into Cadet Territory. Then a fumble by Simley gave the ball back in favor of STA and led to a very nice 50-yard rushing touchdown by Junior Running Back Nick Waldvogel. After the 1st Quarter, Saint Thomas Academy was up 14-0 and already working second unit players into the game.

One of those second-unit players, Junior Running Back John Lunger, checked into the game and rattled off a 26-yard touchdown at 4:50 in the 2nd Quarter and brought the score to 21-0. The remainder of the 1st Half was filled with penalties by both teams and mistakes that accompany usually the first game of the season. Simley with the ball to what it seemed to be the final seconds of the quarter ended up going for it on 4th down and took a big sack to the QB Wanzek and gave the ball back to STA on downs at the Spartan 44 yard line with 0:09 seconds remaining. With one play before the half, QB John Gould scrambled around the field and threw up a bomb to the end zone. Waiting for the ball were numerous players from both teams, but the tallest player on the field, 6'4" Senior Wide Receiver Thomas Sjoberg, came down with the football as time expired and put the score at 28-0.

The 2nd Half was more of the same dominance from the Cadets and rushing touchdowns by Charlie Kyle of 20-yards and Joe Pavlick for 5-yards, finished off the scoring for Saint Thomas Academy and the game. The Cadets held Simley scoreless for the contest, though they were -2 in the turnover column and racked up 42 unanswered points. With the win, the Cadets start off clean and look for another Classic Suburban Conference Title. They will go home and host Richfield next Friday, September the 9th on MnSportsNetwork.com. Simley looking to improve upon their two win season from a year ago, travel to Mahtomedi to take on another Top-10 team in Class AAAA.

MSBN Players of the Game:
Saint Thomas Academy - SR QB John Gould
Simley - SR RB Micah Barnes