Photo Credit: Roman Puno/PrepsKC 
St James Academy used their speed on offense, defense, and special teams to totally dominate Blue Valley North, in their sectional matchup, final score 45-6.
St. James defense was on the field first and forced a quick three and out. A good punt return, and a personal foul, put the Thunder in plus territory. After a couple of quick passes, moved the ball to the two-yard line, quarterback Tyson Beashore, caught everyone by surprise as he ran a sneak for the score. Jack Bevitt converted the kick and the Thunder led 7-0.
Beashore was just warming up, tossing two more touchdowns before the half. The first was a 32-yard catch and run by Sam Niesen. The second came with just :16, left in the half, John Tujague, ran a perfect wheel route out of the backfield, sped down left sideline, for the 30-yard score.
After the game Beashore was asked about his teammates.
“We just put the ball, in our fast guys’ hands, and let them go make plays,” Beashore said.
The Thunder took the second half kick and moved the ball but stalled in the red zone. Bevitt walked on the field and nailed a 30-yard field goal, to make the score 24-0.
Beashore had one more touchdown pass before the end of the third quarter. A 32 yard, play action pass, to Frank Menghini, who made a defender miss, inside the 5-yard line, as he went in for the score.
Punt returner, Noah Hornback, electrified the crowd, when he fielded a punt on the bounce, ran to his left, making defenders miss, as he accelerated down the sideline for 67-yard punt return for a touchdown. Bevitt finished his night, perfect on his kicks, making the score 38-0.
The Thunder did have one more score, a 5-yard run by Gavin Puchalla. Ben Johnson came off the bench, to kick the conversion.
Blue Valley North avoided the shutout, when quarterback Lark Anderson connected with Dylan Sama, for a 42-yard touchdown, in the final minute of the game. The Mustangs finish the season with a record of 3-8.
St James Academy improves to 6-5, with just one team in between them and a spot in the title game. That team is the undefeated 11-0, St Thomas Aquinas Saints, who they will meet, on the 22nd.
