In a hyped matchup that annually decided the Class 5A state finalist, the rematch lived up to the billing.

St. Thomas Aquinas (11-0) defeated five-time defending Class 5A state champion Mill Valley, 23-22, on Friday night to advance to the state semifinals. The two perennially faced off in the playoffs until the Saints underwent a two-year hiatus in Class 4A the last two seasons.

The Saints, the No. 1 team in Class 5A at 10-0, held a 15-7 halftime lead, but Mill Valley surged on a 35-yard pass from Connor Bohon to Gavin Gall set the Jaguars at the Aquinas 32. Then star running back Reggie Reece broke tacklers for a 32-yard touchdown run and a 15-14 deficit with 10:49 left in the third period.

After a muffed Aquinas punt at its own 42, Mill Valley drove the short field and scored on a Reece touchdown plunge from two  yards out, then Bohon hit tight end Isaac Sauder for the two-point conversion, and a 22-15 lead with 5:17 left.

But Aquinas drove across midfield until it faced a fourth-and-16 at the Jaguar 45. Then star running back Calin Arndt heaved a halfback pass to Brett Yankovich, which was met by a herd of Mill Valley defenders, but was deflected into the waiting hands of senior Will Callahan at the 16. Two plays later, Arndt busted through for a 15-yard score and 22-21 deficit with :58 left.

On the kick attempt, Mill Valley (9-2) was flagged for a penalty to move the ball to the 1 ½ yard line. Head coach Randy Dreiling rethought the call, went for two, and Arndt took the ball off right tackle into the end zone for a 23-22 lead.

Mill Valley drove to midfield, Bohon scooted to the Aquinas 35 with :23 left, but the Jaguars were flagged for a 15-yard penalty. Four long heaves from midfield were incomplete for the Saints to hold on.

St. Thomas Aquinas will host St. James Academy next Friday in the Class 5A semifinals.