St. Thomas football’s September 4th matchup against Lake Creek turned into an early-season showcase of grit, discipline, and perseverance. For much of the game, the Eagles found themselves in a deficit, searching for the right spark to turn their consistent effort into points on the scoreboard. When that moment arrived in the fourth quarter, it carried the team to an exciting 19–18 comeback victory.

Head Coach Ray Davis explained that the theme of the week leading up to the game had been learning to face adversity with confidence.

“We knew this game would challenge us,” he said. “Facing adversity early in the season was going to say a lot about what we could achieve. That message proved to be exactly what we needed to emphasize.”

From the first minutes of the game, the defense gave the Eagles a strong foundation for the eventual comeback. Defensive pressure kept Lake Creek from ever pulling ahead by more than a few scores. Over the course of the night, the defense forced six turnovers and held Lake Creek to just over 200 yards of total offense. Junior linebacker Vontrell Benton stood out with his consistency in crucial moments, while seniors Obinna Umeh and Khairan McQueen, along with junior Rylan Kimpson, anchored the defensive front.

Still, the game leaned in Lake Creek’s favor heading into the fourth quarter, until McQueen recovered a Lake Creek fumble deep in their territory, setting the stage for the Eagles’ offense to capitalize. On the following play, quarterback Pierce Jacobson connected with senior receiver Jay Marcantel for a 43-yard touchdown. The loyal St. Thomas fans in the crowd came alive, and momentum shifted.

The excitement only grew in the next series. After the defense forced a punt, Jacobson pulled through again, finding Marcantel downfield for a 70-yard touchdown. In the span of just a few plays, the Eagles had pulled within striking distance of Lake Creek.

In the final minutes, facing 4th-and-20, Jacobson delivered a pass to senior Nate Tidwell, who placed the ball at the Eagles’ 8-yard line. On the next play, Jacobson scrambled in the pocket and into the end zone, giving the Eagles their first lead of the night. The defense then sealed the comeback win with a sack on Lake Creek’s final play.

Coach Davis praised his team’s composure, even as the game hung in the balance.

“Because the game was always within a few scores, our sideline remained locked in,” he said. “Once we scored with about nine minutes left, everyone knew we had enough time to win.”

More than just a victory for the program, the night was a lesson in the values of Eagle athletics. The discipline to stay focused, the knowledge to capitalize on opportunities, and the goodness of teammates and coaches believing in one another until the very end.