For many decades the rivalry between football powers Cretin Derham Hall and St. Thomas Academy was as intense as it gets. Both were members of the Catholic School League until joining the MSHSL and were members of the St. Paul City Conference until STA departed in 1987.

The rivalry was big, given that the two schools often competed for the same students, and that players on the two teams often knew each other, some basically living across the street from each other or attending the same grade school. There were many times when it was relative against relative.

Former Cretin Derham Hall Head Coach Rich Kallock has had his share of battles in this rivalry and understands the deep history of this match-up. “The STA/CDH rivalry dates back for decades. If you were a Catholic boy living in St Paul, and coming from the Catholic grade schools you either went to the Academy or Cretin. Both schools were single sex/JROTC affiliated/ and strongly Catholic. The balance of power switched from time to time: Tom Warner at Cretin, Skip McMahon at STA, both great coaches and competitors. Then Wee Walsh at Cretin dominated the rivalry for years. Gerry Brown became STA's head coach, said enough was enough, and he dominated the series for quite a while. When Mal Scanlan and I took over at Cretin in '82, getting a "W" in that game became an obsession. We came close a couple of times, then we finally beat them in OT, and in a playoff game to boot. From then, for a few years, it was an even battle. Then we started to dominate for quite a while. Bob Slater took over at the Academy, and it was always a good battle, but we would find a way to win. Bragging rights for current players and alums stayed at Randolph and Hamline.

In January CDH named Steve Walsh ’85 as our new football coach. After leading Cretin to the state tournament in 1984, Walsh went on to lead the University of Miami to a national championship in 1987 and then played 11 years in the NFL. Since retiring, Walsh has coached at Cardinal Newman High School (FL), IMG Academy (FL) and the Canadian Football League. “Steve Walsh knows the rivalry. Steve knows the feeling of both winning and losing that game from a player's perspective. Steve was a great player; he was a successful high school coach in Florida; he coached for years in the CFL. I am confident he will do everything in his power to make "THE GAME" important to his players.” Kallock added. 

Walsh’s task is rebuilding a decorated program rich with championships and players who have played at the highest level. The future is bright with a group of 9th and 10th graders that have not lost a game in two years.

“Dan O'Brien has carried on the legacy and traditions at STA; Steve is going to do the same at CDH. One thing is for certain, Alums from the winning school will have AND use the bragging rights for the whole year. I am sure that Tom Warner, Wee Walsh, Skip McMahon and all the players from our glorious past are having a heavenly wager on the game too..... with that being said "Go Raiders!"

One thing is guaranteed, the atmosphere will be electric in Mendota Heights on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7PM. Those unable to make it can watch it via live streaming at http://cadetbroadcasts.com/