GALESVILLE — The Aquinas High School football team took the first step on its path in the WIAA Division 4 playoffs by posting a shutout while hosting a game on a neutral field.
The top-seeded Blugolds (10-0) scored three touchdowns in the second quarter on the way to shutting out eighth-seeded Amery 39-0 on the field behind G-E-T High School on Friday.
Senior quarterback Ryan Johnson completed 12 of 19 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns as Aquinas earned a second-round home game against fourth-seeded Osceola (7-3) on Oct. 31. That game will be played at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Johnson completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to senior Logan Becker and a 48-yard touchdown pass to senior Waylon Hargrove in the pivotal second quarter.
Junior Brady Lee scored on a 3-yard run between those passing touchdowns, and the Blugolds had a 32-0 halftime lead.
Aquinas had 438 yards of total offense and received a team-high 95 rushing yards from senior Marcus Klar.
Johnson’s first touchdown pass covered 24 yards and was caught by junior Calvin Bahr in the first quarter. Junior Isaac Miller added an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for Aquinas, which won its first-round playoff game for the seventh year in a row.
The Warriors (4-6) were trying to win their first postseason game since 2004.
