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"We saw a number of new guys step up Friday night," said Dreiling.  "That's one of the things that sustains a program."
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Game Recap

SAINTS COMEBACK TO DEFEAT COUGARS
 
 
St. Thomas Aquinas overcame a 28-7 halftime deficit, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and held on for a 35-34 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest Friday night at home.
 
The Saints (4-0) remain undefeated with the comeback win over the Cougars (2-1).
 
Junior defensive back and punt return specialist, Dajni Brooks, returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown in the closing minutes to put the Saints ahead, 35-28.
 
Sophomore Saints quarterback, Maxwell Ford, passed for 183 yards, as the Saints passing game came alive in the second half.  
 
"Both underclassmen," said Saints coach Randy Dreiling.  "After a difficult first half, our quarterback really made the most of his passing opportunities.  It's always great to see a new guy step in and give an effort like that.  And we're fortunate to have a guy like Dajni who can make a play."
 
Shawnee Mission Northwest led, 28-7, at halftime.  Senior quarterback, Ty Black, accounted for 335 of SM Northwest's 388 yards.  He passed for 237 yards and two touchdowns; received a pass for 44 yards; and led the team in rushing with 54 yards and two touchdowns.
 
"He put forth a special effort," said Dreiling.  "As I said before the game, we expected he was capable of that.  Fortunately, our defense made some adjustments in the second half and gave us the opportunity to come back."
 
Aquinas out-gained the Cougars, 436-388.  Despite SM Northwest gaining more passing yards (281-183), Aquinas averaged nearly twice as many yards per pass (26-15).
 
At fullback, Tyron "Tank" Young rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and Sean Carroll rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown.
 
Junior wide receiver, Evan Kammerer, caught a 77-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter, and sophomore slot back Xavier Horn caught two balls for 54 yards, setting up the game-tying touchdown, and rushed for 18 yards.
 
"We saw a number of new guys step up Friday night," said Dreiling.  "That's one of the things that sustains a program."
 
Senior defensive lineman, Caden Reeves, led the defensive tackle chart with half a sack, a tackle for loss, and three hurries.  Junior defensive lineman, Jalen Marshall, had four hurries, and sophomore defensive back, Jacob Bittner, broke up three passes and had six solo tackles.
 
Aquinas began the game recovering a kickoff fumbled by the Cougars.
 
Aquinas scored on six plays, including a Carroll touchdown, to lead, 7-0.
 
But the Cougars quickly answered, gaining first downs on three of six plays, then a 36-yard touchdown pass.
 
Aquinas punted, then SM Northwest scored on a trick play, as the defense followed the quarterback run right, while Duke Henke hid under the center and ran left.  The Cougars led, 14-7.
 
The Saints gained two first downs but turned it over on downs at the Cougar 35-yard line.
 
Taking over for SM Northwest, Black had a 39-yard scramble on 3rd and 10, then threw a 14-yard touchdown to give the Cougars a 21-7 lead with 9:20 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Aquinas punted again, and the Cougars took over at their own 21-yard line.
 
On 2nd and 10, Black handed the ball off, cut between the tackles and caught an out pattern for 43 yards, setting up SM Northwest at the 24.  The Cougars then converted two third downs, the second a 3rd and 6 escape by Black from a sack for a nine-yard touchdown run.
 
The Cougars led at the half, 28-7, after Aquinas ran out of time on its final possession.
 
Aquinas again punted to start the second half.
 
But the defense got its first stop of the game, forcing a three-and-out.
 
On 1st and 10, Ford used play action to find an open Kammerer over the middle for a 77-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the deficit to 28-14.
 
The Cougars again went three-and-out, as Reeves sacked the quarterback, Bittner covered a flag route, and Elias Carson broke up a comeback route.
 
But Aquinas turned it over on downs at the SM Northwest 21.
 
The Saints defense, however, forced another punt after yielding a single first down.
 
Taking over at their 36, the Saints went on a 15-play scoring drive into the fourth quarter.  Carroll had runs of 7, 12, 6, 6, and 5, as Young finished off the drive with runs of 4 and 3 to score.  Aquinas still trailed, 28-21.
 
The Aquinas defense yielded two first downs, but forced a punt.  The Saints took over at their 5-yard line.  Young ran four times for five yards each.  Then Ford snuck for two on 4th and 1 at the Aquinas 27-yard line.  
 
Xavier Horn then caught passes of 26 yards and 28 yards, setting up a one-yard Young touchdown run, tying the game, 28-28, with 2:57 remaining.
 
After Reeves stopped a screen, and Bitter broke up another pass, the Cougars punted, and Brooks took it to the house 84 yards, breaking two tacklers on the catch, breaking another ankle-tackle, throwing a stiff arm, then finally juking the punter.  The Saints led, 35-28.
 
However, an unsportsmanlike penalty forced the Saints to punt from their 25-yard line.  After quick plays of 35 and 15 yards, SM Northwest had 1st and goal, and Black snuck for a touchdown.
 
The Cougars went for two points and dropped the pass in the back of the end zone for a Saints win, 35-34.

 

EKL Scores Last Week
St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Shawnee Mission Northwest 34
Bishop Miege 38, St. James Academy 28
Blue Valley 37, Blue Valley West 7
Blue Valley Northwest 42, Blue Valley Southwest 19

 
EKL Schedule This Week
Lawrence at St. Thomas Aquinas
Bishop Miege at Wamego
Blue Valley North at Blue Valley Northwest
Blue Valley Southwest at Blue Valley West
St. James Academy at Rockhurst
 

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