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SAINTS DEFEAT T-WOLVES
Aquinas defeated Blue Valley Southwest in Week 2 Friday night, 62-7, after building a halftime lead of 42-7, the team's second consecutive week with six touchdowns in the first half.
The Saints gained 564 yards of offense, including 369 in the first half, and limited the home-team Timberwolves to 131 yards.
"We were very pleased with our level of effort," said coach Randy Dreiling. "On offense we established the running game and made some big plays in the air. The defense continues to tackle and fly to the ball." 
Aquinas (2-0) rushed for 453 yards on 9.2 yards per carry. Tyron "Tank" Young rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
Fellow junior, Blake Anderson, completed all six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Isaiah Gavin caught three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, his second consecutive week with 50-plus yards and a score.
"We're executing both the run and the pass," said Dreiling. "We are hitting the holes and completing passes to open receivers. There are a lot of things you can do with this offense, and the players are making those things happen."
Other than a 72-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, the defense yielded just 48 yards, including just 14 rushing, to Blue Valley Southwest in the first half.
Defensive back Terrence Collins and linebacker Bobby Pierce led all Saints tacklers with five solo tackles apiece. Collins also blocked a punt on special teams.
Defensive back Kordan Harris had three solo tackles, including one for a loss. Linebacker Cameron Penny and defensive lineman Caden Reeves each had a tackle for a loss and sack.
"Defense is a group effort, and all of that effort doesn't always show up in the stats," said Dreiling. "What we've done the first two weeks certainly is something we can build on as a group." 
By the 3:58 mark in the first quarter, Aquinas led 21-0.
After a Timberwolves punt, Aquinas took over at its own 47-yard line. Anderson kept the ball around the right corner for eight yards. Anderson found Gavin streaking up the left sideline for 41 yards. Finally, Young scored on a goal-line second effort for a 7-0 lead.
On Blue Valley Southwest's next two possessions, the Aquinas defense forced a punt resulting in Aquinas having the ball in Timberwolves territory. Young ran three times, including the second score, then caught the third touchdown for 11 yards outside the left hash on play action, extending the lead to 21-0.
On the ensuing possession, Blue Valley Southwest gained three first downs, marching to the Saints 24-yard line, but the defense turned the Timberwolves over on downs.
With the Saints taking over, Young ran 27 yards on toss sweep to the left, aided by a Pierce block on the edge. Tom Downey picked up another first down on an 11-yard toss to the left. However, the offense stalled at the Blue Valley Southwest 27-yard line.
The very next play, the Timberwolves scored a 72-yard touchdown pass over the middle to the running back having snuck behind the defense.
"It's a great play," said Dreiling. "It seems like they score on us on that play every time we play them. But overall, our defense was outstanding. We were able to limit them on the ground and in the air the rest of the game."
Holding a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter, Aquinas answered with another momentum shift back in the Saints' direction. Taking over at its own 21-yard line, Young ran three times, finally for 20 yards on a rocket toss right.
Following a penalty, facing 2nd and 19, Anderson passed to Will Thompson on the left hash at the middle level of the defense for a 25-yard gain and first down.
After Charlie McCormick ran 11 yards on a toss right, Young took a toss right 23 yards, using a stiff arm at the 15-yard line to ensure the touchdown and a 28-7 lead. 
After a punt and 15-yard penalty by the Timberwolves, the Saints started on offense at the Blue Valley Southwest 27-yard line. Young took a triple-option pitch right to the front corner of the end zone for his fourth touchdown and a 35-7 lead.
After another punt by Blue Valley Southwest, resulting in negative yardage, Aquinas started from the Timberwolves' 23-yard line. On another one-play drive, Anderson found Gavin wide open over the middle for a 42-7 lead at the 6:22 mark.
Aquinas shut out Blue Valley Southwest 20-0 in the second half.
EKL Scores Last Week
St. Thomas Aquinas 62, Blue Valley Southwest 7
Blue Valley 34, Blue Valley North 7
Blue Valley Northwest 34
Harrisonville (Mo.) 7
Mill Valley 27, St. James 7
Bishop Miege 48, Blue Valley West 20
EKL Schedule This Week
Blue Valley Northwest at
St. Thomas Aquinas
Pittsburg at Blue Valley North
Blue Valley at Blue Valley Southwest
Blue Valley West at St. James
Bishop Miege at Mill Valley
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