60 / 212
58
/
ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL
/
HOUSTON, TX
After erasing three different
deficits and breaking one fourth
quarter deadlock, quarterback
Michael Keating ‘16 carried on
seven straight plays for 51 yards,
including a 20-yard breakaway
keeper from midfield just inside
the 3:00 mark, to drive St. Thomas
to Strake’s 10-yard-line in a 35-35
scoring fest.
Well within range of a potential
game-winning field goal and facing
second-and-two with :16 left,
Coach Tim Fitzpatrick elected to
roll the dice with no timeouts for
one perhaps fateful shot to the
end zone. And Keating relished
the risk-reward opportunity,
capping a magical night with a
masterful Manziel-like completion
... dropping back in the pocket,
stepping up to avoid pressure,
reverse spinning 360 degrees
before standing and delivering a
perfect strike to Drew Guidroz ‘16
in the middle of the end zone to
finish STH’s fourth consecutive
touchdown series and decide the
game’s outcome.
“I’m a gambler. And I believe
in our kids,” Fitzpatrick said. “I
liked our chances to get the
touchdown. Tons of weapons
and lefty (Keating). He’s a
baller. Always looking to make
something happen. With his
ability to scramble it allows some
of those routes to develop. The
coverage breaks down and the
receivers don’t just stop and
watch. They’re breaking to
open areas and that’s what Drew
did. Kudos to the kids. What a
great night to be an Eagle.”
Keating’s late night at the improv
in the final maniacal moments
was merely the final salvo in a
wild 42-35 thrillarama in front of
nearly 10,000 at NRG Stadium,
the Eagles’ fourth consecutive win
in the series, with three of those
four determined in the game’s
closing six seconds, the last two on
scoring throws from Keating.
Athletic Director Mike Netzel
needed but a brief pause of
consideration to determine that
the latest stun-at-the-gun verdict
in the venue serving up Super
Bowl XL “one of my absolute
best nights since coming to St.
Thomas seven years ago. It had
the feel of a state championship
game. What great support in this
building. What a response when
it mattered most. When your
guys commit in the off-season
and in the summer like these guys
have, when you invest, players
and coaches, and you put enough
in the tank, you won’t quit. You
won’t give in. Our guys were
determined to make the plays
at the end that would make the
difference.”
The Eagles trailed 21-14 at
halftime and 28-21 at the end
of third period, but rallied with
a 21-point fourth period, twice
answering Strake touchdowns with
11-play scoring marches to tie or
go ahead.
“Eagle fight never dies. It’s more
than words in a motto. Our
guys believe that,” Fitzpatrick
said. “If there’s time left on the
clock, we’re in the game. We’ve
been in a lot of big games, big
stakes. We expect to answer the
challenge. This is what makes
high school football great. Such
an electric atmosphere. Easy to
get swallowed by the hype. It
shows just how mentally tough
our guys are, to get off to a solid
start, lose some momentum, keep
their confidence and perform in
crunch time.”
For a few weeks during the early
months of 2015 the Eagles were
experiencing a different sort of
crunch ... a home team without a
home field for this annual football
series.
Spring Branch ISD’s Tully
Stadium, the site for St. Thomas’
convincing 34-17 win in 2013, was
unexpectedly unavailable.
Alternative public school venues
previously in the mix were deemed
undesirable.
Unthinkable was pursuing the
home of the NFL Houston
Texans.
But undeterred, a consistent
confidence and persistent effort
resulted in STH securing an
unequaled and historic setting for
the rivalry’s 2015 installment.
Initial reaction in April within
the STH community to hosting
at NRG Stadium produced
record response traffic on the
school’s website and social media
platforms within 48 hours of the
announcement.
That revved up wave of
enthusiasm rode right into the
Labor Day weekend showdown.
“The buzz was out there from
the very beginning,” Athletic
Coordinator Kenny Martin ‘01
said. “I recognized the deal was
doable as soon as we looked at the
initial financials. I walked across
the hall to Mike’s office and said,
‘Let’s go to NRG.’ And then we
went to work to get it done. It’s
INSIDE EAGLE ATHLETICS
Eagles claim fourth series win in four years by total of 31 points
Pete Huggins (left) and Robert Gonzales (no. 72) with teammates after securing
fourth straight win in series