St. Thomas of Houston Wins Dramatic Local Derby

03.19.2026HS Boys

Strake Jesuit and St. Thomas are longtime rivals.

Author: Alex Goff

St. Thomas edged Strake Jesuit 24-22 Wednesday night in a huge game among school teams in Texas.

Both teams were undefeated going into this match and it proved to be a very intense contest.

"A lot of these guys know each other and have played each other since middle school," said St. Thomas Head Coach James Wolfinger. "It was a true derby."

The win was led by the St. Thomas front row. Loosehead Khairan Mcqueen got them plenty of go-forward and he scored two tries, both in the second half.

"He is a strong carrier," said Wolfinger.

Hooker Connor Johnson brings the work rate and the energy and plenty of open-field skill. And tighthead prop Jacob Ramos brings a bit of the X-factor. A consistent left-footed boot as the team's goalkicker, he was the difference on Wednesday.

St. Thomas

FINAL

3.18.26

Strake

Jack Hanson scored an early try in his first varsity start to get St. Thomas going. Ramos converted. Strake answered with a try from Felipe Edibrooke with halftime approaching. Fran Moretti, who had hit an early penalty goal, converted and Strake led 10-7.

Early in the second half Mcqueen went over for his first, with Ramos converting for a 14-10 St. Thomas lead. It stayed that way until about 20 minutes to go when Sam Mahoney scored for Strake. Moretti converted and it was 17-14 Strake.

Mcqueen scored his second, and Ramos didn't miss, either, to make it 21-17 for St. Thomas. As time wound down, Strake retook the lead with a William Grace try to make it 22-21.

With time almost up St. Thomas worked their way into the Strake half, and got a penalty. It was a tough angle but Ramos put it over. St. Thomas's defense closed it out after that.

"It was back-and-forth all the way," said Wolfinger.

Ramos was the hero but captain and center Bailey Holub ran the team well on attack while Xander Young was also dangerous.

This was big for St. Thomas, which, said Wolfinger, had been battling for years to get back around the top of the Texas school league. It has taken some time, but they are now in very good shape to be the top team in the South Division.

If they beat Lake Travis next week the Eagles will be the #1 seed as teams in the South and in the North enter the quarterfinals.

There is an excellent chance, then, that St. Thomas and Strake will meet again.