Shawnee Mission NW, Aquinas, St. James rack up Kansas high school football wins

It was another big night of games across the Kansas City metro on Friday.

Here are some highlights from Week 3 of the Kansas high school football schedule.

No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas 42, No. 18 Blue Valley 21

St. Thomas Aquinas reiterated why it’s king of the Eastern Kansas League — and Kansas Class 5A. And for the second straight week, the defending state champions surged for a win over an EKL foe and fellow 5A contender.

After seeing Blue Valley take a 7-6 lead early in the second quarter, Aquinas, the No. 2-ranked team in the 810 Varsity Top 25, scored 29 straight points. Last week the Saints topped fellow EKL and 5A rival St. James Academy 41-21.

After Blue Valley took the lead midway the second period, the Saints mounted a drive capped by Carson Patrick’s 26-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Arthur Witherspoon. Senior tailback Cal Arndt plunged in for a two-point conversion and it was 14-7 with 4:27 left.

Following a turnover on downs, Aquinas mounted a hurry-up offense that resulted in a 65-yard, 51-second drive. For the finisher, Arndt rushed around the corner and through multiple Tigers defenders for a 16-yard TD and 21-7 halftime lead.

Junior Xavier Bachamp scampered for a 41-yard touchdown in the third period, and Arndt later tallied a one-yard TD — his 11th of the season. Arndt finished Friday evening’s game with 237 yards and three TDs.

Aquinas piled up 377 rushing yards. And Witherspoon hauled in two TDs, including a late 54-yarder on a pass from Luke Bernhardt.

The Saints will face Blue Valley Southwest next Friday, while Blue Valley takes on No. 14 St. James Academy.

No. 14 St. James Academy 21, No. 8 Blue Valley Northwest 7

St. James Academy relied on its defense and opportunistic plays for a 21-7 win in a Top 25 showdown.

The Thunder, ranked No. 14 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, capitalized on four Huskies turnovers, including two in the red zone to halt BVNW scoring threats.

St. James (2-1) started early with a six-yard TD run by senior running back Jake House. On their second possession, the Huskies mounted a 12-play drive that put them inside the St. James 10-yard line, but they turned over on downs.

Then, right before halftime, junior quarterback John Hornback connected with senior wideout Preston Canzoneri for a 13-yard TD strike. So it was 14-0 at intermission. The duo hooked up again for a 31-yard TD with 9:02 remaining in the third period.

Northwest (2-1) tried to get back in the game, but a fumble on a goal-to-go in the third quarter halted one threat. Later, another fumble in the red zone and interception were culprits.

The Huskies did score with 4:56 left when Aidan Ihm hit Logan Chandler for a six-yard TD.

St. James Academy welcomes Blue Valley next Friday, while the Huskies play host to Washburn Rural.

Shawnee Mission Northwest 52, No. 24 Olathe West 33

The dynamic duo of Trai Woodruff and Demetric Tyler put on a show Friday, scoring seven touchdowns as Shawnee Mission Northwest routed Olathe West.

Woodruff, the Cougars’ senior quarterback, opened the scoring with a rushing TD. The Cougars’ next two possessions ended with TDs by Tyler to make it 21-0. Tyler finished the night with 147 rushing yards.

Olathe West’s Josh Foland scored on a seven-yard touchdown run, but seconds later, Woodruff took a keeper into a 69-yard scamper to the end zone. By game’s end, Woodruff would account for 220 yards on 19 carries.

The Owls answered with a 62-yard TD, but Northwest scored again via a 43-yard field goal by Jack Williams. It was 31-14 at halftime.

The big plays continued for Northwest in the second half. Woodruff took a keeper to the left and darted through Owls for a 52-yard TD. Daquan Smith’s interception set up Woodruff’s fourth touchdown of the night.

The Cougars will face Olathe Northwest next Friday night, while the Owls play host to Shawnee Mission North.

For scores, stats, recaps, rankings, broadcasts and more, visit 810Varsity.com.