Aquinas begins the 2020 season at home Friday night against St. James.
The Saints are coming off a 10-1 season in which they made the Class 5A state semifinals for the sixth consecutive season. The Saints are 33-3 over the past three seasons, including a 2018 state championship.
Aquinas is 6-0 all-time against the Thunder, defeating them twice in 2019.
"We're ready to get the season started," said coach Randy Dreiling, entering his seventh season at Aquinas. "We've seen St. James a number of times in recent years. We're excited to start the 2020 season with them."
Aquinas returns seven starters on defense, including the entire defensive line.
"We have a very experienced group on defense," said Dreiling. "It's important for us to set the tone on that side of the ball." 
Returning on the line are the top two on the 2019 team tackle chart. Defensive end, Sa'o Siavi'i, led the tackle chart in 2019 as a freshman, with 10.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for a loss, and eight hurries. Senior defensive tackle, Caden Reeves, had 68 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, and 8 hurries.
Senior Cameron Penny and junior Jalen Marshall also return on the line.
Rounding out the returners on defense in the secondary are junior Dajni Brooks, junior Will Gavin, and senior Elias Carson. Brooks, who had 62 tackles, six pass breakups, and three interceptions in 2019, moves from safety to defensive back. Gavin returns at safety after compiling seven pass breakups and two interceptions in 2019. Senior Elias Carson returns at safety.
The 2020 offense is made up mostly of first-year starters, except three cornerstones return, fullback Tyron "Tank" Young, quarterback Blake Anderson, and lineman Danny Carroll, who moves from center to right guard.
"We will rely on those three to provide leadership for the newcomers," said Dreiling. "Of course, every season there are newcomers. What makes programs successful over time is new guys coming in and replacing the old guys and maintaining the same level of play. That's what we'll expect again this season." 
Young, already Aquinas's career leading rusher and single-season record holder, enters his senior season. In 2019, Young rushed for 1,867 yards and 32 touchdowns, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. In 2018, Young rushed for 2,075 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging 9.7 yards per carry.
Anderson passed for 1,293 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2019.
The Saints averaged 456 yards of offense per game last season, including 338 rushing and 118 passing. The Saints limited teams to 274 yards per game. The team's average margin of victory was 45-18.
Aquinas's 2020 schedule has familiar faces but also some new foes. In the coming weeks, the Saints will face perennial opponent, Bishop Miege, winner of six-consecutive Kansas Class 4A state championships, as well as Raytown, a Missouri Class 5 quarterfinalist in 2019, Christian Brothers, the Missouri Class 6A champion in 2017 and 2018, Omaha Westside, a Nebraska Class A finalist in 2019, and Bishop Carroll, a three-time Kansas Class 5A champion, including in 2014 and 2017 over Aquinas.
"St. James is our focus right now," said Dreiling. "We're all excited to be playing football. Our goal is to start the season with a win over St. James." 
