Aquinas opened the 2019 season Friday night at Blue Valley High School with a 48-19 win over Blue Valley, leading 41-0 at halftime.
The Saints defeated the Tigers for the third consecutive meeting, all by double-digit margins, bringing six-year coach Randy Dreiling's record against the traditional state power to 4-2.
"This game could not have turned out better for us," said Dreiling. "Obviously we came out and set the tone early in the game on both sides of the ball. We were very physical. On the line of scrimmage both ways, despite losing a number of players from last year, we seemed to pick up right where we left off last season."
Aquinas raced to a 28-0 first-quarter lead with strong play on both sides of the ball, and used the passing game to extend the lead to 41-0 late in the second quarter just before halftime.
Aquinas out-gained Blue Valley 398-155 and won time of possession, 33-15. The Saints rushed for 255 yards, first-year starting quarterback Blake Anderson passed for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, and the defense scored a touchdown (and nearly a second) and shut out Blue Valley in the first half. 
Anderson, a junior, averaged 11 yards passing per attempt and threw three touchdown passes, to fullback, Tyron "Tank" Young, wideout Isaiah Gavin, and tight end Tommy Carroll.
Gavin caught three balls for 55 yards, including the 33-yard touchdown. Young had four receptions for 56 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown, as well as 81 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Charlie McCormick rushed for 69 yards, including 6.3 per carry.
To start the game, the defense forced a Blue Valley three-and-out. Taking over on offense, Anderson capped the Saints' first drive with a touchdown run and an early 7-0 lead. 
The Saints defense again forced a three-and-out on the next Tiger possession. Back on offense, Young then rushed for a first down on 4th and 2, following that up with a 25-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 Saints lead at the 4:02 mark in the first quarter.
The Saints defense kept the pressure on. On the ensuing possession linebacker Cameron Penny sacked the quarterback for an 8-yard loss. Caden Reeves forced the quarterback to scramble and throw an incomplete pass. On 3rd and long, defensive back Terrence Collins forced a short reception out of bounds and Blue Valley punted.
Following that defensive stand, on the next two plays from the line of scrimmage, Aquinas would score two more touchdowns.
Taking over at the Blue Valley 16-yard line due to a 2-yard punt, using play action, Anderson found Carroll for a touchdown pass and 21-0 lead. 
After a Charlie Weinrich touchback, Cameron Penny pressured the Blue Valley quarterback to pass into the near flat, where Bobby Pierce intercepted and ran 20 yards to extend Aquinas' lead to 28-0 after a Weinrich extra point at the 3:03 mark in the first quarter.
Two plays later after another Weinrich touchback, the Saints nearly had another pick-six but a penalty extended the Blue Valley drive.
But a Kordan Harris solo tackle and Reeves pressure caused another Tiger three-and-out.
Aquinas began the second quarter with a punt to the Blue Valley 17-yard line. After a big Blue Valley gain into Saints territory, Penny stopped the quarterback, Collins broke up a pass, Peyton Reeves sacked the quarterback on a Pierce blitz, and a Penny sack on a Dajni Brooks blitz turned Blue Valley over on downs.
Back on offense on 3rd and 9, Anderson found Gavin on an out-pattern for a first down. After McCormick ran five yards up the middle, Young made something out of nothing for a double-digit gain. Tom Downey received a triple-option pitch for 12 yards, then Anderson kept it around the far corner of the line for 10 yards.
Following three broken plays or penalties, Aquinas faced 4th and 28 from the Blue Valley 33-yard line, but Anderson found Gavin on a sprint up the near sideline in the corner of the end zone for a 35-0 lead.
Then despite a big kickoff return, the defense held up. Peyton Reeves sacked the quarterback twice, both Reeves bull-rushed forcing an incomplete pass, Harris made another tackle, and Caden Reeves again hurried the quarterback, forcing a Blue Valley punt, which resulted in a touchback.
Aquinas had one more score in it before the halftime horn. Taking over at its own 20-yard line, Young took a pitch 11 yards. Gavin received on another out-pattern for 11 more yards. Young then took a screen pass to the Blue Valley 31-yard line, gaining Aquinas' third first down in four plays. 
Downey ran four yards on a pitch but a subsequent fumble pushed Aquinas back nine yards. After an incomplete reverse pass, Gavin again beat his man up the near sideline, leading to a pass interference call and a first down at the 21-yard line.
To close the half at the :08 mark, Anderson rolled into the near field and threw a touchdown pass against his body to Young for a 41-0 halftime lead.
