St. Thomas Aquinas defeated Blue Valley Southwest Friday night in the state quarterfinals, 47-20.
The Saints built a 41-0 halftime lead. Aquinas has not allowed a point in the first half in the 2019 playoffs.
The win brings the Saints' winning streak over the past two seasons to 22 games.
"We played an excellent first half," said Saints coach Randy Dreiling. "All facets of the offense worked. The defense shut them out. We accomplished what we set out to do. Now it's on to the next game."
With the win Aquinas earned its sixth consecutive state semifinal berth, all under Dreiling. The Saints next face Mill Valley in the state semifinal at home.
For the first time this season the Saints passed for more yards than they rushed (238-185 for the game; 204-95 first half). In the first half, the Saints (10-0) out-gained the Timberwolves (3-8) 299-78 and averaged 16 yards per play, 7 yards per rush, and 34 yards per pass. 
"It was a great effort," said Dreiilng. "We were dominant on both sides of the ball."
Blake Anderson passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns on 7 of 8 passing. Tyron "Tank" Young rushed for 95 yards and five touchdowns on 11 carries, all in the first half.
The receiving group made a number of big plays. Tom Downey had 116 receiving yards and one touchdown on three receptions, Isaiah Gavin 81 yards and a touchdown on three receptions, and Finn Barnett one reception for 41 yards.
Charlie McCormick also rushed for 74 yards.
Caden Reeves led the tackle chart with two caused fumbles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and a hurry. Junior linebacker Bryce Klayman had two sacks and two tackles for loss. Dajni Brooks caused a fumble, recovered a fumble, and shared a sack and tackle for loss. Michael McNamara had one-and-a-half tackles for loss and shared a sack.
"We need to build on this game," said Dreiilng. "It only gets tougher from hereon out."
The teams traded fumbles to start the game, leaving the Timberwolves at the Saints' 30-yard line. Cameron Penny made a stop, Reeves sacked the quarterback, and Kordan Harris stopped a short out route.
Harris then blocked a field goal attempt, and Isaiah Gavin recovered and returned it to the Saints' 46-yard line. 
Downey received a pass for 37 yards, then Young carried the ball five times, ultimately for a three-yard touchdown at the 5:29 mark of the first quarter.
Reeves combined on two stops, and Siavi'i made another to force fourth down. The Timberwolves punted negative-six yards after a bad snap.
Young ran 20 yards for a score and 14-0 lead the next play.
The Timberwolves gained two first downs but Reeves broke through the line to force a fumble and six-yard loss. Gavin broke up a pass up the numbers, then Klayman sacked the quarterback.
The Saints took over at the 50 after Blue Valley Southwest failed on a fake punt. Anderson hit Barnett for 41 yards, then Young pushed the lead to 21-0 at the 11:24 mark of the second quarter.
After another Charlie Weinrich touchback, the Timberwolves gained a first down after the Saints roughed the kicker. Blue Valley Southwest gained two more first downs but on 1st and 10 from the Saints' 31, Harris intercepted the quarterback at the 2 and returned it to the 23.
On 3rd and 10, Downey received a left out route and broke a couple tackles moving 29 yards into Timberwolves territory.
Three plays later, Young burst up the middle then bounced out to the corner of the end zone, 45 yards for a 28-0 lead. 
McNamara and Klayman combined on a sack, and Brooks set up the Saints at about midfield on the punt return.
On one play Anderson found Downey for a 47-yard touchdown pass up the left hashes.
Brooks set up the final drive of the half with another punt return to about midfield.
Gavin caught two balls on a 13-yard comeback and a 34-yard post, setting up a one-yard score by Young and a 41-0 halftime lead.
EKL Scores Last Week - Regionals
Class 5A Playoffs
St. Thomas Aquinas 47, Blue Valley Southwest 20
Mill Valley 18, Desoto 7
Class 6A Playoffs
Olathe North 35, Blue Valley West 34 OT
Blue Valley 21, Blue Valley North 20
Class 4A Playoffs
Bishop Miege 54, Tonganoxie 10
EKL Schedule This Week - Sub-State
Class 5A Playoffs
Mill Valley at St. Thomas Aquinas
Class 6A Playoffs
Blue Valley at Olathe North
Class 4A Playoffs
Bishop Miege at Paola
