Friday, November 1, 2024
Farmer's Union Insurance
605 Sports
605 Sports
Noah Wald's fourth-quarter TD strike with 38 seconds left propels St. Thomas More past Mount Vernon/Plankinton
St. Thomas More's Noah Wald drops back to pass against Mount Vernon/Plankinton on Thursday in Mount Vernon.
(Payton Nedved / 605 Sports)

Noah Wald's fourth-quarter TD strike with 38 seconds left propels St. Thomas More past Mount Vernon/Plankinton

Oct 31, 2024
  

By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

MOUNT VERNON — Faced with a nine-point deficit, St. Thomas More turned to its freshman quarterback Noah Wald to deliver another road playoff win. 

Wald tossed three fourth-quarter touchdown passes to spark a Cavalier comeback victory over Mount Vernon/Plankinton, 38-34, in an entertaining Class 11B quarterfinal game on Thursday.

“He played very well for us,” STM coach Austin Hagen said. “He trusted his guys blocking for him and he trusted his receivers down field.”

Hagen praised Wald, a 5-foot-11, 150-pound freshman, for his resiliency and mental toughness. The Cavaliers needed it in the fourth quarter. MVP’s Riley Mayer intercepted a Wald screen pass and ran in for a short pick-six, giving the Titans a 34-25 lead with 6:57 left. 

Wald marched the Cavaliers (8-2) down the field, and zipped a nine-yard touchdown pass to Kain McLeod, cutting the deficit to 34-32 with 3:54 left. 

STM forced MVP (7-3) to punt and it took over at its 20-yard line with 2:26 left. Wald, who is a dual-threat quarterback, picked up crucial yards with his feet and right arm on the final drive. 

“Just take whatever they give us,” Wald said about the final drive. “We didn’t have to push it all down the field at one time. We just had to stay calm and take what the defense gave us.”


Wald engineered a drive down to STM’s 10-yard line, and found Ryan Neugebauer for a game-winning touchdown in the back of the end zone with 38 seconds left. 

“I couldn’t believe it,” Wald said. “It’s something I have been dreaming of since I was little. I am just so excited.”

Wald took the shotgun snap on the game-winning TD, rolled to his right and hit Neugebauer before an MVP defender could make a play on the ball. 

“They kind of saw us rolling out on the back side, all the backers, plus the safeties and he was just open on the back,” Wald said. “I hit him and we wouldn't be able to do any of this without God. So I just want to praise him and all his glory.”

The Titans drove the ball to midfield, but their desperation heave with three seconds left fell incomplete and STM celebrated. 

“We were prepared, but not as prepared as we should be,” Wald said. “But we fought back. They got a lead on us and we have a great group of guys here and hopefully we can just keep this into the rest of the playoffs.”

Through the first two weeks of the playoffs, the Cavaliers have picked up road wins at Groton Area and Mount Vernon/Plankinton. It adds up to 1,280 miles on the road.  

“That’s how we opened our year,” Hagen said. “We went on the road back East River twice. They are pretty used to it and just their mentality going into it. They know what it is. They know what to expect, and the biggest thing is they have the confidence to do it and get off the bus and perform.” 

Wald threw for 306 yards and threw four passing touchdowns. McLeod hauled in 87 yards and two touchdown catches. Neugebauer hauled in 82 yards receiving. 

MVP’s Brady Fox rushed for 113 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns. Kyle Sandland added 101 rushing yards and a score. 

St. Thomas More will play at Winner in the Class 11B semifinals on Nov. 8.

Pierre's Lexie Hillmer with the corner kick as Ireland Templeton scores an early goal
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa's Easton Lawrence moves the pile for a Braves touchdown
White River's Riley Bouman with the athletic interception that he nearly returns for a score
Mobridge-Pollock's Wyatt Ziegler grabs hold of the bobbled pass then rumbles for a Tiger touchdown