This all started two years ago, really. This unlikely budding rivalry between two high schools 16 miles apart on the map and a long way apart in the spectrum of Kansas football.St. Thomas Aquinas had become perennially one of the best 5A teams around, consistently reaching the state semifinals. Gardner Edgerton, in stark contrast, had never so much as won a playoff game before 2007.One is a private school near the bustle of Overland Park, the other a public school in the more rural area of Gardner. They don’t compete in the same league or play many of the same teams. But those differences are merely part of the backstory now.Gardner Edgerton plays at Aquinas tonight in a Kansas 5A state semifinal for the latest installment of a matchup that becomes more intriguing each time the teams share the same field.It will be their fifth meeting since 2007, their third clash in the playoffs in that span and their second straight duel in the state semifinals, as the programs have become very aware of each other in a short time.“I think there’s just a healthy respect knowing that St. Thomas Aquinas is a good team, Gardner’s a good team, (and) it’s going to be a good game,” Aquinas coach Mike Thomas said this week.Or as Trailblazers coach Marvin Diener playfully put it: “There’s no question that they know where Gardner, Kansas, is. They still think we all drive tractors, but they do know that we can also take off our farm boots and put on football cleats, too.”The story of this burgeoning rivalry has a lot to do with Diener.He came to Gardner Edgerton in 2006 after an accomplished run at Salina Central, where he won six state championships. He took over a Trailblazers team that had won two games the season before his arrival, but he took over with resolute confidence that he was going to build another championship-caliber program.In 2007, his second season, the Trailblazers won the first playoff game in program history and advanced to a quarterfinals matchup with Aquinas. That day, Aquinas won handily, 21-0, on its way to another semifinals appearance.“At that point, we were just throwing our cards on the table, hoping they fell right for us,” Diener said.The 2008 season would be different. Gardner Edgerton, now slotted in the same district as Aquinas, took a 7-0 record into a district clash with the Saints. Again, Aquinas prevailed, but the gap was narrowing — 12-6 this time. Four weeks later, they met again in the 5A semifinals.Aquinas won 17-12 and gained its first trip to the 5A championship game, but Gardner Edgerton was very clearly moving in the right direction.That all set the stage for Oct. 23, 2009 — when 7-0 Aquinas played at 7-0 Gardner Edgerton. A season-best crowd of around 4,500 people filled the stadium that night, the night Gardner Edgerton took the next step in its development as a 5A title contender. Gardner Edgerton 28, St. Thomas Aquinas 26.And here they are again tonight … 11-0 Gardner Edgerton at 10-1 St. Thomas Aquinas. So can it be called a rivalry yet?•Diener: “I would say so. I would say that it has crossed into that, no question. And that’s fun.”•Thomas: “I don’t know if it’s gotten to be a rivalry or not. We don’t look at it that way, but we look at it as … We see Gardner’s on the schedule, and we mark that as we know this is going to be tough team, we know this is going to be a tough game.”Whatever it is, it should be interesting tonight. Gardner Edgerton has rushed for 4,035 yards this season (366.8 per game), led by juniors Brett Jensen (155 carries for 1,287 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns), quarterback Bubba Starling (83-1,239, 17 TDs) and Ryan Weber (115-790, 17 TDs). Starling has also passed for 1,047 yards and 15 touchdowns, and the Trailblazers’ defense has held opponents to an average of fewer than 10 points per game.Aquinas counters with a strong defensive front, led by standout senior ends Ryan Mueller (11.5 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss) and Blake Martin (10 sacks). And a capable offense led by junior quarterback Richard Davila, who has passed for 1,871 yards and 17 touchdowns.For these two teams, this is the next chapter — with many to come in future years because, fittingly, Gardner Edgerton joins Aquinas in the East Kansas League next season.As Thomas said, “If it’s not a rivalry now, it will be.”

Posted on Thu, Nov. 19, 2009 10:27 PM

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St. Thomas Aquinas, Gardner Edgerton an unlikely budding rivalry

By RYAN YOUNG

The Kansas City Star

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This all started two years ago, really. This unlikely budding rivalry between two high schools 16 miles apart on the map and a long way apart in the spectrum of Kansas football.

St. Thomas Aquinas had become perennially one of the best 5A teams around, consistently reaching the state semifinals. Gardner Edgerton, in stark contrast, had never so much as won a playoff game before 2007.

One is a private school near the bustle of Overland Park, the other a public school in the more rural area of Gardner. They don’t compete in the same league or play many of the same teams. But those differences are merely part of the backstory now.

Gardner Edgerton plays at Aquinas tonight in a Kansas 5A state semifinal for the latest installment of a matchup that becomes more intriguing each time the teams share the same field.

It will be their fifth meeting since 2007, their third clash in the playoffs in that span and their second straight duel in the state semifinals, as the programs have become very aware of each other in a short time.

“I think there’s just a healthy respect knowing that St. Thomas Aquinas is a good team, Gardner’s a good team, (and) it’s going to be a good game,” Aquinas coach Mike Thomas said this week.

Or as Trailblazers coach Marvin Diener playfully put it: “There’s no question that they know where Gardner, Kansas, is. They still think we all drive tractors, but they do know that we can also take off our farm boots and put on football cleats, too.”

The story of this burgeoning rivalry has a lot to do with Diener.

He came to Gardner Edgerton in 2006 after an accomplished run at Salina Central, where he won six state championships. He took over a Trailblazers team that had won two games the season before his arrival, but he took over with resolute confidence that he was going to build another championship-caliber program.

In 2007, his second season, the Trailblazers won the first playoff game in program history and advanced to a quarterfinals matchup with Aquinas. That day, Aquinas won handily, 21-0, on its way to another semifinals appearance.

“At that point, we were just throwing our cards on the table, hoping they fell right for us,” Diener said.

The 2008 season would be different. Gardner Edgerton, now slotted in the same district as Aquinas, took a 7-0 record into a district clash with the Saints. Again, Aquinas prevailed, but the gap was narrowing — 12-6 this time. Four weeks later, they met again in the 5A semifinals.

Aquinas won 17-12 and gained its first trip to the 5A championship game, but Gardner Edgerton was very clearly moving in the right direction.

That all set the stage for Oct. 23, 2009 — when 7-0 Aquinas played at 7-0 Gardner Edgerton. A season-best crowd of around 4,500 people filled the stadium that night, the night Gardner Edgerton took the next step in its development as a 5A title contender.

Gardner Edgerton 28, St. Thomas Aquinas 26.

And here they are again tonight … 11-0 Gardner Edgerton at 10-1 St. Thomas Aquinas.

So can it be called a rivalry yet?

•Diener: “I would say so. I would say that it has crossed into that, no question. And that’s fun.”

•Thomas: “I don’t know if it’s gotten to be a rivalry or not. We don’t look at it that way, but we look at it as … We see Gardner’s on the schedule, and we mark that as we know this is going to be tough team, we know this is going to be a tough game.”

Whatever it is, it should be interesting tonight.

Gardner Edgerton has rushed for 4,035 yards this season (366.8 per game), led by juniors Brett Jensen (155 carries for 1,287 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns), quarterback Bubba Starling (83-1,239, 17 TDs) and Ryan Weber (115-790, 17 TDs). Starling has also passed for 1,047 yards and 15 touchdowns, and the Trailblazers’ defense has held opponents to an average of fewer than 10 points per game.

Aquinas counters with a strong defensive front, led by standout senior ends Ryan Mueller (11.5 sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss) and Blake Martin (10 sacks). And a capable offense led by junior quarterback Richard Davila, who has passed for 1,871 yards and 17 touchdowns.

For these two teams, this is the next chapter — with many to come in future years because, fittingly, Gardner Edgerton joins Aquinas in the East Kansas League next season.

As Thomas said, “If it’s not a rivalry now, it will be.”

To reach Ryan Young, sports reporter for The Star, call 816-234-4706 or send e-mail to ryoung@kcstar.com

Posted on Thu, Nov. 19, 2009 10:27 PM

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