Jaguars run over Lawrence
Game 4
If you wanted to sum up Mill Valley’s Sept. 26 football game against Lawrence High School with a movie title, I would suggest: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
With all-state running back Reggie Reece sidelined, junior running back Max Piva got the start and absolutely destroyed the Lions defense and the Jaguars rolled to a 42-21 victory.
Piva was a hammer. He breezed his way through the holes created by his offensive line and when there wasn’t a hole, he made one, running over and through defenders. At night's end Piva had 237 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
“Max’s performance tonight was nothing short of something incredible,” said senior quarterback Blake Jay. “Tonight, with Reggie being out, he showed up like we all knew he would. This kid wasn’t letting anyone take his moment from him. Having a running back like him that is always there to get the yards you need is something that every team dreams of. Max is a great kid and he deserves everything that comes for him in the future.”
Max Piva gets up a head of steam and runs rough shot through the Lawrence Lions defense.
It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for the Jaguars as the special team mistakes that have plagued them throughout the season continued as the opening kickoff was fielded at the two yard line putting Mill Valley in a huge hole.
Thankfully the Jaguars offense was not phased. With Jay running the offense, Piva pounding the ball and strong offensive line play the Jaguars quickly marched down the field into Lion territory. The drive was ultimately stopped by a Jaguars fumble.
The defense quickly got the ball back and the Jaguars put together two nice scoring drives. The first ended in a Jay one yard touchdown run and the second in a five yard Piva touchdown run.
“I believe that the O line played very well,” said senior offensive lineman Zach Darr. “They were throwing all kinds of stuff at us and we responded well.”
Darr said he’s pleased with the progress the offensive line has made this year but said there was still room for improvement.
“I love our effort. We still have things we need to work on but our effort and focus is definitely there,” he said.
With a 14-0 lead the Jaguars defense came up with a big play when defensive back Ayden Mosely picked off a Lawrence pass around midfield and took it to the house for a touchdown giving the Jaguars a 21-0 lead.
Defensive back Ayden Mosley intercepts a Lions pass and takes the ball 40-plus yards for a touchdown.
Lawrence would counter with a touchdown but Mill Valley would follow that score with a six yard touchdown run from Jay on fourth down.
On the ensuing possession Lawrence would benefit from a pass interference call setting them up deep in Jaguar territory. They would score with 29 seconds left putting the halftime score at 28-14.
One the defense side senior defensive lineman Hayden Heller was happy with the win but felt the defense could have played better.
“The defense overall played good, not great,” he said. “Definitely some things to shore up but we had our good moments. But, it was not the best game we have played all year.”
The Jaguars lost junior linebacker Ryder Farley early in the game to a high ankle sprain. Junior Gavin Welch replaced Farley on defense. Heller said the moment was not too big for Welch.
“Losing Ryder was definitely a change but I think Welch stepped up. Although he made a few rookie mistakes, he played hard and did his job how he was supposed to,” Heller said.
The Jaguars defense made a stand in the second half. Lawrence received the second half kickoff and the Jaguars forced a quick three and out. But the Jaguars defense had to quickly return to the field as the ensuing punt was touched by a Jaguar and recovered by the Lions. The Jaguars held tough and kept the Lions out of the end zone. The defense held the Lions scoreless the second half until they got a meaningless touchdown late in the contest after the game was already decided.
With the win the Jaguars move to 3-1 on the season. They will face Shawnee Mission Northwest next Friday at home. It will be homecoming for the Jaguars and the 2015 state championship team — the first state championship of any kind for Mill Valley — will be honored.
