St. Thomas Academy rallied from a 23 point deficient against Alexandria in a 42-30 Class 5A semifinal win Friday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Click the video box on this page to watch KSTP Sports’ extended highlights of the Class 5A State Football Semifinal between St Thomas Academy and Alexandria

Just beyond the midpoint of the second quarter, St. Thomas Academy was not only staring at a 23-point deficit, but also the unwanted finish to its 2023 season. Senior playmakers Savion Hart, a finalist for the Mr. Football Award, and quarterback Maximus Sims kicked things into high gear for the Cadets in engineering 42 unanswered points

Hart, an energetic running back, rushed for 227 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns. He had a long run of 86 yards. Sims completed 12 of 15 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns of his own to send the Cadets (10-2) into the Class AAAAA championship for the fourth time since 2015.

The Cadets finished as the runner-up in each of those three previous Prep Bowl appearances.

Alexandria Area, making its 12^th state tournament appearance, was trying to earn a berth in a championship game for the first time since finishing as the Class AA runner-up in 1994.

Things certainly went Alexandria’s way in the early going. Junior quarterback Chase Thompson completed 28 of 47 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns in helping the Cardinals (11-1) build its early lead.

RELATED: KSTP Sports State Football Central Homepage

Courtesy: Minnesota State High School League

Click here to view a Class 5A bracket.