Mill Valley stops the flex in dominating win

Game 5

For their first two drives the Shawnee Mission Northwest flexbone offense flexed its muscles in engineering two scoring drives against Mill Valley in a Sunflower League matchup.

But when there is royalty in the house, you don’t want to disappoint. The 2015 state championship team was being honored on homecoming nonetheless.

“ It was definitely a bit of pressure seeing that 2015 team behind the end-zone,” said senior defensive back Jenner Scobee. “Coach Applebee speaks so highly of that team and we knew that we had to go out there and get a win for them.”

Thankfully the Jaguars offense was up to the task matching Northwest touchdown for touchdown on two Blake Jay touchdown runs. Northwest would take a 17-14 lead before the defense suddenly caught fire. 

Sefety Kendyn Charbonneau picked off a Northwest pass with a little over three minutes left in the half which lead to a Blake Jay score moments later.

Kendyn Charbonneau picked off a Northwest pass with a little over three minutes left in the half. Jay would score his third touchdown of the night shortly after. With the Cougars looking to rally, Jaxon Garcia would recover his first fumble of the night leading to a Reggie Reece 25 yard touchdown run and suddenly the Jaguars had a 28-17 halftime lead. 

But all was not well in Jaguar nation. Defensive end Josh Garcia went down with an injury early in the first half while Charbonneau would join him on the sidelines later in the half with an injury. 

Taking over for Charbonneau was senior Garrett Cox. 

“I prepare every week like I'm a starter for times like these,” Cox said. “I made some mistakes during the game but was eager to get over to the tv and learn and correct. I didn’t try and go out to make plays. All I did was simply execute my job and I was lucky enough to make a lot of good plays.”

While Josh Garcia was sidelined he used the opportunity to coach up his replacement - Barrett Carbajo. 

“We preach ‘the team the team the team’ every week and how it’s next man up so I knew I needed to do my part and coach up Barrett as a young sophomore that hasn’t seen what varsity football is like,” Josh Garcia said. 

“The advice I gave Barrett was just play fast. That was our moto during the week and he really needed to not to think and just react.”

Building off the momentum of the second quarter, the Jaguars offense went out and immediately got to work. A throwback pass from Jay to tight end Stone Zambo netted a big gain into Cougar territory. 

Junior tight end Stone Zambo delivers a stiff arm to a Northwest defender on his way to a big gain to start the second half.

Reece would take it from there and give the Jaguars a commanding 35-17 lead. The Cougars implosion would continue when they got the ball back on offense. A fumble, recovered by Jaxon Garcia, his second of the night, gave the Jaguars prime field position at midfield.. 

The Jaguars would work the ball down the field and cap off the drive with 10 yard Max Piva run. 

Northwest would answer back with a touchdown of their own, but Mill Valley’s offense was unstoppable. Reece would score his third touchdown of the night on the next Jaguars drive and Piva would finish off the Cougars with a 1 yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to give Mill Valley a 56-24 lead which would be the final score. 

Jay had nothing but praise for the entire offensive unit.

“Tonight's success goes to the entire offense as a whole,” he said. “The o-line did an incredible job with every single assignment and blocked everything exactly how it needed to be. The running backs were outstanding in following their blocks and finding the right hole to run in. And I couldn't be more happy with my receivers. I love those boys and I'm doing everything I can to try and get them the ball.”

Senior wide receiver Bryce Shorten said that Jay deserves much of the credit for how well the offense is performing.

“I think Blake is doing an unbelievable job at quarterback this season,” Shorten said.  “It’s been so much fun to be on the field with all of the guys. I think this year the team has been doing so good together that it carries over how the offense is performing in games like these.”

Jay, Reece and Piva all rushed for more than 100 yards on the night. Jay also passed for 107 yards. 

The Jaguars improve to 4-1 on the season. They will be at home again next Friday to take on Olathe West, who had a huge win on Thursday night dominating deafening 6A champion Gardner-Edgerton 49-21. 

For more photos from this game, go to www.centerstageseniors.com and click on the Center Stage Sports link.