To borrow a page out of the St. Louis Cardinals vernacular, it was probably a happy ride for the St. Louis University High School Football Jr. Bills back home Friday night, following a 37-31 comeback win in double overtime over De Smet.

The Spartans held a 28-14 third quarter lead, but SLUH, featuring a Trevor McDonagh-triggered offense, made a habit of converting on third down throughout the night, including a pair during a 99-yard drive to to tie the game at 28 with 4:50 to play.

On Senior night, seniors KeVonn Mabon and Durron Neal led De Smet with two touchdowns apiece. Neal, the Oklahoma recruit who this week was presented with his jersey for the U.S. Army All American Bowl Game, was forced to sit out possessions in the second half, including the team's final series on offense and defense, with what head coach Pat Mahoney called a tweaked knee resulting from a SLUH chop block.

A late fourth quarter De Smet drive with the game tied took a turn for the worse when Conner Harrison was picked off in the endzone by Cameron Stubbs while trying to find Mabon on a fade route.

Mahoney took the blame for going with the playcall instead of keeping the ball on the ground and attempting a field goal. Kicker David Rudolph missed a pair of field goals earlier, including one which came after a penalty nullified a first quarter De Smet touchdown, but came through in the first overtime to tie the game at 31.

The second overtime began with a SLUH interception on defense before McDonagh found Stubbs in the endzone en route to a happy flight back to Oakland Avenue. Mahoney told his team that all they have to do is win next week to get another shot at their Jesuit rivals in the state playoffs. He also reminded his 7-2 squad that his state title team made its run to the Show-Me Bowl as a 2 loss team.

Next Week: At Mehlville

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