Photo Credit: Nick Smith/PrepsKC 
Saint Thomas Aquinas' Cole Richardson is listed as a 6-foot, 4-inch, 180-pound quarterback in the Saints’ game-day program. So imagine seeing the lean, lanky signal caller line up at halfback in Aquinas' run-heavy offensive scheme.
Richardson not only gained the bulk of the carries Friday against Basehor-Linwood, he excelled. Richardson scored three rushing touchdowns to help Aquinas claim a dominating 38-7 win over the Bobcats in the Kansas Class 4 quarterfinals.
Next up for Aquinas (8-3) is a KSHSAA semifinal matchup with Tonganoxie (9-2) for a right to play for a state championship in two weeks. Tonganoxie outlasted Atchison (10-1) 57-50 in sectional play to advance to the final four. The loss was the first in 11 games for Atchison. Tonganoxie will be a tough draw for the Saints.
Against Basehor-Linwood, the Saints’ ground game — led by Richardson and all-purpose back Gavin Middendorf— was difficult to contain.
"We're going without real running backs. but those guys ran the ball pretty hard today and did a good job," Aquinas head coach Randy Dreiling said.
Injuries at tailback put Richardson in a position to help his team anyway he could.
"I just needed to step in," he said. "I'm just going to do my job for my boys and get the W."
Basehor-Linwood closes the chapter on its season with a 7-4 record. Coming off a stunning 22-20 win last week over previously unbeaten Louisburg (9-1), the Bobcats were held to one garbage-time touchdown.
Credit Aquinas' defense for Basehor-Linwood's offensive struggles. Led by Power 5 recruit Julian Marks, an imposing interior lineman, the Knights made life difficult for Bobcat quarterback Brady Van Donge and his receivers.
Van Donge was under duress most of the game. He threw three interceptions, including a first-quarter pick returned for a touchdown by Aquinas senior linebacker Wyatt Potter.
"Their defense is really good," Basehor-Linwood head coach Rod Stallbaumer said. "You have to tip your hat to them. They've shut down a lot of good teams."
Less than a minute into the game, the Saints were up 7-0 thanks to Potter's pick-6. Aquinas never looked back.
Later in the first quarter, after a Bobcat punt, Aquinas used a methodical approach to march downfield for its second score. Richardson's 5-yard touchdown run helped extend the Saints’ early lead to 14-0 with a little over 3 minutes left in the first.
On the first play of the second quarter, Aquinas linebacker Luke Hancock intercepted a pass at the Bobcats' 33-yard line. Richardson ran 18 yards to the 15, then gained three more yards on the next play. But the drive stalled and Aqunas was forced to try a field goal attempt from 32 yards out.
Max Doerfler's kick put Aquinas out in front 17-0 with 9:51 left before halftime.
Blake O'Brien returned a muffed punt 50-plus yards to the 6. Richardson scored from 3 yards out. A successful extra point kick by Doerflee, his third, made the score 24-0 less than four minutes into the 2nd quarter.
Richardson's third TD came on the first drive of the second half. O'Brien followed with an interception, the team's third of the game. The score was 31-0 just two minutes into the 3rd quarter.
Middendorf found paydirt on a 6-yard scoring run. Another successful PAT kick made it 38-0 with less than 9 minutes remaining in the game.
Sam Boetcher scored the Bobcats' only touchdown on a short run in the 4th quarter.
The game marked the last home game for Richardson and other Aquinas seniors. The Saints sent their upperclassmen out with a bang.
"It feels amazing," Richardson said.
