St. Thomas Aquinas opened the playoffs Friday night at home with a 48-13 win over Pittsburg, earning a spot in the state quarterfinals against Blue Valley Southwest.
The Saints (5-3) scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 28-7 halftime lead and led 42-7 after three quarters.
"As the game progressed, our defense settled in and made a number of stops," said coach Randy Dreiling. "We also had some big plays on offense and defense. When we play well on defense, we're tough to beat."
The Saints defense limited Pittsburg to 205 yards and scored a touchdown, and Aquinas had great field position, needing just 278 yards of offense to score 48 points. 
"Our offense was very physical," said Dreiling. "The defense did their job and put us in position to score, then the offense took care of the ball and executed. Tank also had a big run to give us some separation before halftime."
Aquinas rushed for 271 yards. Senior back, Tyron "Tank" Young, rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run to close the first half.
Sophomore fullback, Sean Carroll, rushed for 87 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
Senior safety, Elias Carson, returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown to put the Saints up, 14-0, to start the second quarter.
Senior defensive end, Cameron Penny, led the tackle chart with three sacks, three tackles for a loss, and a caused fumble.
Pittsburg opened the game with a failed onside kick. Starting at midfield, the Saints pounded their way down the field for a touchdown on 11 plays. Carroll ran inside six times for 45 yards, plus a touchdown on 1st and goal from the one for a 7-0 lead. 
Pittsburg responded with an 18-play drive from their 17-yard line, converting 3rd and 9, 3rd and 8, and 4th and 5.
But on 1st and 20 from the 23 following a holding penalty, Blake O'Brien stopped a run around the right end and Sa'o Siavi'i drove the quarterback into a sack by Penny. On 4th and 20, Carson returned an interception for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Three plays later, Carson had another pick-six but a late false start nullified the play. Pittsburg punted.
Sophomore quarterback, Maxwell Ford, ran 12 yards, Young had plays of 14, 10, and 7, then Carroll scored his second touchdown of the game from 13 yards out. The Saints led, 21-0, at the 7:09 mark.
Pittsburg went three-and-out, but after a Saints interception, the Dragons scored on seven plays from the Saints 40. 
Then on 3rd and 4, Young scored on a 61-yard run a minute before halftime.
The Saints' Caden Reeves opened the second half stopping a Pittsburg run on 4th and 1.
Taking over at the Pittsburg 34, Aquinas scored on nine plays, converting a 4th and 1 and a 4th and 3. Then Young ran 12 yards for another touchdown and a 35-7 lead.
After a Reeves stop, Penny sack, a grounding call, and Siavi'i pressure, Pittsburg punted 10 yards to its own 20. Carroll scored his third touchdown of the night for a 42-7 lead.
