The Saints face a gut check this week at Bishop Carroll (Wichita), following their second consecutive loss of the season, their first such streak since 2016.
The game starts at 6 p.m. on campus.
"This is an important game for this team," said coach Randy Dreiling. "We've not played our best recently. This week is an opportunity to turn things around. Carroll is an excellent team once again this season, so we have to be sound and physical and give great effort." 
St. Thomas Aquinas (4-2) completes the 2020 regular season at the Eagles (4-2).
Aquinas fell, 49-6, to Omaha Westside (Neb.) last week, following a loss to Lawrence, 39-27.
Carroll won last week, 56-35, at Bishop Miege, who Aquinas also defeated this season, 41-35. Carroll's other loss is to Derby, 35-21.
Carroll recently defeated Aquinas twice in the state championship game, in 2014 and 2017.
"We do have some history with Carroll," said Dreiling, whose teams at Hutchinson also played Carroll. They were 3-2 against Carroll from 2009 to 2011. In 2009, Carroll broke Hutchinson's state-record streak of six consecutive state titles. 
"But every team is different. We are up against the wall right now, and we need to show what we can do. We're about to roll into the playoffs, so it's time to step up."
Aquinas's average score this season is a deficit, 28-27.
Third-down and fourth-down conversions are about even, as are turnovers, though all of Aquinas's turnovers have been the last two weeks, both losses.
Aquinas continues to out-gain opponents on average, 356-304, including 278-138 rushing. However, field position, big plays, and penalties have been issues, clearly favoring opponents.
Senior fullback, Tyron "Tank" Young, has rushed for 904 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior defensive tackle, Caden Reeves, leads the tackle chart with 38 tackles and 14 hurries.
