St. Thomas Aquinas ended each of the last two seasons watching EKL-rival Mill Valley celebrate a victory and a trip to the Kansas Class 5A state title football game.

The two-time defending 5A state champion in Mill Valley stood in Aquinas’ way again on Friday. This time, the Saints did the celebrating.

Aquinas started the first half fast and finished it faster en route to a dominating 55-21 home victory. The Saints (11-1) will play Wichita Bishop Carroll on Nov. 25 at Pittsburg State. Aquinas is on a quest for its first state title in football in school history.

Senior quarterback Will Swanson rumbled 42 yards for a touchdown on Aquinas’ first play from scrimmage.

“It definitely felt good,” Swanson said. “It helped with momentum, too. We scored on the next three drives, I think. We practiced that play all week, and it ended up working out for us.”

It was a harbinger of things to come. The Saints tacked on two more touchdowns in the final 1:20 of the first half, and took a 35-7 lead into halftime.

The Aquinas offense rolled up 345 yards by the half. Cameron Jackson ran for 119 yards and three first-half touchdowns, setting the school single-season rushing record.

For more, visit KansasCity.com