The St. Thomas Aquinas and the Pope John Paul II football game was a tale of two halves.

The Falcons dominated the first half and built a 21-0 lead. But Pope John Paul II took over in the second half, rallying to a 31-21 win.

The Jaguars (6-4) finished District 8-2A at 3-2. PJP also garnered the bragging rights, receiving the Catholic Cup that comes with the rivalry between the two high schools. It marked the first victory PJP over St. Thomas Aquinas for the first time since 2006.

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Meanwhile the Falcons (6-4) fell to 4-1 in league play and saw their six-game winning streak come to an end. By virtue of the Falcons’ loss and Springfield’s 25-6 victory over Northlake Christian School, St. Thomas and Springfield finish tied for the District 8-2A title.

The LHSAA will announce the playoff pairings for all classes today.

St. Thomas dominated offensively in the first half, taking advantage of field position and PJP turnovers.

St. Thomas mounted a nine-play, 45-yard drive reaching the Jaguars’ 31 before being forced to turn the ball over on downs. The Falcons got the ball back after a PJP punt and marched down to the Jaguars’ 37 on another possession before turning the ball over on downs failing to convert on fourth-and-seven with a incomplete pass play.

PJP was forced to punt again after a seven-play drive and the Falcons took possession at their own 19. Two plays later, senior running back Brandon Robertson went off-tackle and scampered 74 yards for a touchdown. Scott Sledge kicked the PAT and the Falcons led 7-0 with 33 seconds left to play in the first quarter.

The Falcons defense intercepted a Jaguars’ pass on its next possession when Cameron LeBleau gathered in the football at the 48.

St. Thomas could not take advantage of field position and turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert on a fourth-and-four at the 21.

PJP committed its second turnover when running back Tyler Lusignan coughed up the ball and St. Thomas’ David G’sell recovered at the Jaguars’ 43.

The Falcons capitalized this time, scoring in nine plays when Robertson tallied his second TD on a two-yard run. Sledge booted the PAT to make it 14-0 with 30 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Falcons’ defense held PJP to just 62 yards of total offense in the first half.

St. Thomas wasted no time getting on the scoreboard to open the third quarter. Robertson returned the second-half kickoff 64 yards to the Jaguars’ 32. The Falcons needed just three plays to score their third TD. Robertson had runs of 21, 2 and 2 yards, as he posted his third touchdown. Sledge kicked the extra point to make it 21-0 with 10:54 left in the third quarter.

But the momentum began to swing into PJP’s favor the rest of the way.

It began when the Jaguars partially blocked a Falcons’ punt after Brendon Lagasse got his hand on the ball and PJP took possession at St. Thomas’ 31.

The Jags capitalized on field position and scored six plays later when Perkins connected with Zach Goodnow on a five-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was missed, but PJP cut the deficit to 21-6 with 1:51 left to play in the period.

Pope John Paul II got the ball when Tim Turner intercepted Ethan Bleakley’s pass and returned it to the Falcons’ 34.

The Jaguars went to their hurry-up offense and scored in seven plays when Perkins rifled a 13-yard touchdown pass to Chandler Scheurmann. Sidney Corwin kicked the PAT to trim the Falcons’ lead to 21-13 with 7:44 remaining in the game.

The Jaguars were successful on an onside kickoff attempt when Lagasse recovered at STA’s 27.

PJP scored on a Perkins one-yard plunge. The Jaguars tallied a successful the two-point conversion when Perkins hit with Joel Price to tie it at 21-21 with 6:35 left to play.

The Falcons could not get their offense on track during its next possession and were forced to punt at their own 45.

But the Jaguars blocked their second punt. Pope John Paul’s Turner recovered the ball and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. Corwin added the PAT and PJP took the lead for the first time 28-21 with 3:10 left to play.

The Jaguars’ defense held the Falcons to four downs, as the St. Thomas could not convert on fourth-and-11 when defensive end Calvin Durel sacked Bleakley at the 15.

PJP took possession and ran the clock down to 58 seconds and sealed the win when Corwin kicked a 24-yard field goal to make it 31-21.

Pope John Paul amassed 183 yards of total offense. The Jaguars had 165 yards rushing as Lusignan led the way with 107 yards on 17 carries. St. Thomas chalked up 309 yards of total offense.

PJP coach Mark Jeanmard said his team prides itself on never giving up.

“The best thing was, at halftime was like, what do we have to draw up that ya’ll don’t understand. They (players) said that coach we just have to put forth a better effort and I said lets go do it,” Jeanmard said. “To their credit they did it. Credit to the kids, credit to the coaching staff for not giving up and we won.”

The Falcons had 280 yards rushing as Robertson gained 191 yards on 20 carries and Brandon Loria finished with 78 yards on 16 carries.