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5A Title Game Set for Two Kansas Powers

By 810 Varsity, 11/23/17, 7:45AM CST

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Preview: Aquinas, Carroll Face Off for Championship

St. Thomas Aquinas, in search of its first ever state football championship, meets Wichita-Bishop Carroll this Saturday in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Carnie Smith Stadium on the campus of Pittsburg State University.
  
The matchup will feature two 11-1 teams, who met in the 2014 title game, also in Pittsburg, with the Golden Eagles winning 39-7 after trailing 7-6 at halftime. That is the only previous meeting between the two schools.

However, there is familiarity between the coaching staffs. Saints head coach Randy Dreiling was a graduate assistant coach in 1988 at Fort Hays State University, on a squad that featured Golden Eagle head coach Dusty Trail starting as a senior defensive back. Current Green Bay Packer head coach Mike McCarthy was also a graduate assistant on that staff.

Also, while Dreiling was head coach at Hutchinson, he ran up against Carroll, where Trail was the offensive coordinator for 22 years before taking over for Alan Schuckman this season.

"As coaches, we know each other and what each likes to do, but we're not the ones playing," Dreiling said. "I expect it to be a hard-fought game with great competitors on both sides. Whomever executes better will take home the trophy. It's that simple."

For his part, Trail has not deviated from the approach which served Carroll well under Schuckman. The Golden Eagles' only loss this year was a 54-45 decision to Class 6A title game participant Derby in week five. They have scored 40-plus points in seven games.

"The kids have responded great (to the coaching change)," Trail told Sports In Kansas. "Really, it speaks to the program. We haven't changed anything. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. When you have success, it's because you have a lot of people who step up. Braden's (Howell) really done a tremendous job (at quarterback). He's grown so much in knowledge and leadership. And his toughness is a big plus."
 
Howell, the younger brother of the Northern Iowa quarterback Colton Howell, who quarterbacked the 2014 Bishop Carroll team, has thrown for nearly 2,500 yards. His top receivers are senior Joseph Holthusen and Thomas Helton. On defense, three year starter senior linebacker Riggs Robben leads the Eagles.

"They're explosive on offense and solid on defense," Dreiling said. "They don't beat themselves, so we'll have to play at a very high level. I'm impressed by what I've seen of them on film."
  
This is the ninth title game appearance for Carroll, with championships in 1978, 2012 and 2014. For the Saints, this is their third trip to the title game, falling in 2008 to Dreiling's Hutchinson team and 2014 to Carroll in his first year at Aquinas. As a head coach, Dreiling has been in 11 title games, winning seven, including six straight (2004-09).

"I've always said that Aquinas is well-positioned to win a football championship," Dreiling said. "The school has a winning culture. This senior class is the first to go through our program for four years, so they understand the expectations.

From the day we arrived at Aquinas we have had players who have worked hard and have been committed to being successful. It would great to win a championship for this group, especially for those who have been a part of the program the last four years, as well as the school."
 
In addition to Aquinas, fellow Eastern Kansas League members Blue Valley North and Bishop Miege are competing for state titles. North will face Derby in Emporia for the 6A trophy, while Miege meets Andale in 4A-1 in Topeka.

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