Chanhassen defeats St. Thomas Academy on final play in OT in MSHSL Class 5A Prep Bowl

The Storm take home their first state title in school history

MINNEAPOLIS — The Chanhassen Storm (14-0) defeated the St. Thomas Academy Cadets (10-3) 34-31 in overtime in the Minnesota high school football Class 5A Prep Bowl on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. It's the first state title in school history.

In overtime, a costly false start from St. Thomas Academy forced the Cadets to eventually kick a field goal. Declan Wilson converted the 28-yard kick, and Chanhassen could win with a touchdown.

After running back Maxwell Woods fumbled twice but the Storm recovered, the Storm went for it on 4th and goal at the 2-yard line. Quarterback Brayden Windschitl faked the handoff to Woods, and he rolled out and found Kade Bush in the end zone to take the win.

"He didn’t have anything to say; he’s speechless right now," Kade's brother and senior Daxton Bush said. "It’s just a proud brother moment. There’s not a better way to go out than my little brother winning us a state championship."

Photos: Chanhassen defeats St. Thomas Academy in OT in Class 5A Prep Bowl

The Cadets controlled the clock in the first half, and out-gained the Storm, but Chanhassen led 14-7 at halftime. 

The Cadets opening drive went 16 plays for 71 yards but finished with a missed field goal. Chanhassen responded with a touchdown from running back Maxwell Woods for 76 yards.

St. Thomas Academy's next drive went for 51 yards but stalled and the Cadets turned it over on downs. 

"It started off not our way," St. Thomas Academy quarterback Maximus Sims said. "We drove the ball, but we just didn’t capitalize."

The Cadets forced the Storm to punt on the next possession, and finally St. Thomas Academy turned a drive into points. 

Running back Savion Hart rushed for a 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven with just under four minutes remaining in the second half.

But Chanhassen's quick attack struck again. In under two minutes, Storm quarterback Brayden Windschitl converted a quarterback sneak after Woods exploded for a 58-yard rush to get them in the red zone.

Both teams scored on their opening possession of the second half. 

Chanhassen took a 21-7 lead in a drive under two minutes with a touchdown Woods up the middle for 10 yards. St. Thomas answered with five minute drive and touchdown from quarterback Maximus Sims to Luke Dobbs for seven yards.

The defenses forced three punts in a row to end the third quarter and into the fourth quarter, but St. Thomas Academy sustained another long drive and finished with another Hart touchdown with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. 

"It’s a well balanced offense – very well coached," Chanhassen senior lineman Dom Castagnetto. "They blocked us well tonight. Everything they did was really good."

Chanhassen, needing to bleed clock, did the best it could to chew the clock, but a touchdown worked too. Daxton Bush took an end around for a 62-yard touchdown and a 28-20 lead with two minutes remaining. 

"We’ve been best friends since preschool," Woods said. "We’ve been working on that play forever. … It gave Daxton an open opportunity to run. … That was a game changer for us. I’m going to miss playing with him."

St. Thomas Academy proved it can score quickly when it needed to. Sims led a 65-yard drive in one minute to find Chase Young in the end zone. 

"Every Thursday or Friday, whatever the day is before game day, we do 2-minute drill in practice," Sims said. "We take pride in that. We take pride in doing our two-minute drill. When we get the opportunity, we’ve capitalized on it."

Hart converted the 2-point attempt on a toss, and the game went to overtime. 

"Both great teams," Hart said. "We fought to the end. Obviously, we wanted to win, but as a team we fought as hard as we can."

Hart finished with 37 rushes, 226 rushing yards and two touchdowns for St. Thomas Academy. Sims threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and receiver Luke Dobbs had 11 receptions for 140 yards and one touchdown.

For Chanhassen, Woods finished with 217 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Daxton Bush caught four passes for 51 yards, and he ran for 77 yards and one touchdown.

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