Jaguars get walkoff win in wild game against Olathe West

By Todd Habiger

With the ball on the one yard line with 29 seconds left in the ball game, Olathe West ran the ball twice into the heart of the Jaguars defense — and the Jaguars denied as the clock hit all zeros. The Jaguars walked off the field with a 21-14 victory.

“That last play they were going down the middle and I said ‘hell no,’” said junior defensive lineman Aidan Berry. “I did a little swim move and I got that [guy].”

Berry and the Jaguars defense came up big in all the right moments. Twice in the first half Olathe West had the ball inside the Jaguars five yard line and twice they came away with no points. The first half ended much like the game did, with Olathe West stuffed on the one yard line as time ran out.

The Jaguars got off to a hot start offensively. Mill Valley took the opening kickoff and handed off to Max Piva three times. The third resulted in a 35 yard touchdown run giving Mill Valley a 7-0 lead. 

“We wanted to be in this playoff type of feel,” said senior offensive lineman Barrett Enemark. “We knew going in that Olathe was a good team. We knew it could come down to the last minute so we kept our emotions high and our confidence up.”

Olathe West finally got through the Jaguars defense with a touchdown at 3:34 in the third quarter. The Owls would score again in the third quarter to put them up 14-7.

The Jaguars offense sputtered until late in the fourth quarter when Max Piva scored on a 3 yard run to tie the game at 14-14.

The Jaguars defense came up big on the next possession forcing a three and out for the Owls. 

On the ensuing punt, the Owls were called for catch interference giving the Jaguars good field position on their own 39 yard line. 

Holden Applebee marched the Jaguars offense down the field and then scored on a 6 yard touchdown run with 1:38 left in the game.

“We had a play design that was supposed to go to Max but they covered it really well,” said Holden.”We were in field goal range so I didn’t want to force anything. So I trusted my running capabilities. I knew I was physical and tough enough to get into the endzone.”

On their final possession, the Owls executed a perfect hook and lateral play to get to the Jaguars 14 yard line with the clock winding down. A pass out of the backfield took the ball to the one yard line before the Jaguars goal line stand ended the game.

“Last week we didn’t really trust ourselves with our keys,” said senior defensive lineman Josh Garcia. “Tonight we trusted ourselves, we beared down. We practiced that all week and mano a mano we won.”

Senior offensive lineman Jaxon Harris was filled with emotion after the game ended.

“That was a really close game,” he said. “The offense had to really bear down and communicate well at the end. It’s so exciting. Everyone is cheering and shouting.”

Jaguars head coach Joel Applebee was proud of how his team responded in crunch time.

“We faced a lot of adversity tonight but responded really, really well,” he said. “Defensively we played outstanding. Obviously our goal line stand was awesome.”

The Jaguars will finish their regular season on the road against Olathe East next Friday. A win assures them of home field advantage throughout the playoffs.