PITTSBURG – The Mill Valley Jaguars won their third state football championship in the past five years with a 40-31 victory over Wichita Northwest on Saturday in Pittsburg.
Mill Valley also captured 5A state titles in 2015 and 2016 – also both coming at Pittsburg State’s Carnie Smith Stadium.
The Jaguars led by 14 points in the first half, and restored that advantage early in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Cooper Marsh.
Then the momentum shifted.
After leading since the early moments of the game, the Jaguars suddenly saw their 14-point, fourth-quarter lead evaporate.
Wichita Northwest scored two touchdowns in a span of 33 seconds to tie the game at 31-31 with a little more than nine minutes remaining.
First, Northwest senior quarterback Reagan Jones sprinted 50 yards for a score to pull the Grizzlies within 31-24.
Mill Valley then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Wetu Kalomo recovered for Northwest at the 20-yard line. Two plays later, Jones hit Zion Jones on a 19-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
Mill Valley only gained one yard on its next possession and a short punt set up Northwest at the Jaguar 45-yard line. Northwest couldn’t get a first down and instead elected for a punt that pinned Mill Valley at its own 7-yard line.
From there, the momentum shifted back after one play.
Senior running back Tyler Green raced 60 yards down the right sideline to the Wichita Northwest 33-yard line on the first play of the drive.
A few plays later, Marsh went untouched to the end zone from 28 yards out to put the Jaguars back on top, 37-31. The PAT sailed wide right, meaning Northwest had 5:21 remaining to score and take its first lead since the early moments of the game.
The Grizzlies reached midfield before spending a timeout facing a 4th-and-4 at their own 47-yard line with 3:32 remaining.
After the time out, Jones dropped back, looked left, and fired a pass that was knocked down by Mill Valley defensive end Kendal Christopher.
The defensive stop gave Mill Valley the ball back in Northwest territory.
Two plays later, after Northwest’s final timeout, Marsh raced 20 yards to the Grizzly 25-yard line.
Chris Tennant added a 33-yard field goal with :29 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Jaguars.
Both quarterbacks found success running the football on zone read plays. Marsh rushed for a game-high 183 yards and four touchdowns, while Jones lead Northwest with 159 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Early on, the game looked like it would turn into a track meet as the teams combined for three touchdowns in the first two minutes and 37 seconds of the game.
Jones began the scoring on the game’s opening possession with a 38-yard touchdown run. That would end up being Northwest’s only lead.
Marsh answered shortly after with a 52-yard run. After a fumble on the kickoff, Marsh scored from 19 yards out giving Mill Valley two touchdowns in a span of nine seconds and a 14-7 lead.
That lead expanded to 21-7 after a short Green touchdown run early in the second quarter.
Jamar Martin pulled Northwest to within 21-14 with a short touchdown run midway through the second quarter.
The Grizzlies threatened again late in the half as Jones lofted what looked to be a game-tying touchdown pass, but Mill Valley’s John McGuire broke up batted the ball away from the receiver at the last second. Northwest had to settle for a 39-yard field goal from Carson Arndt to pull the Grizzlies within 21-17 at the break.
Jones also passed for 179 yards, while Marsh threw for 107 yards.
Mill Valley finished the season 10-3, while Northwest finished 12-1.
Mill Valley 40, Wichita Northwest 31
Wichita Northwest (12-1) 7 – 10 – 0 – 14 | 31
Mill Valley (10-3) 14 – 7 – 3 – 17 | 40
Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
WNW – Reagan Jones 38-yard run (Carson Arndt kick) – 10:17 (WNW 7-0)
MV – Cooper Marsh 52-yard run (Chris Tennant kick) – 9:32 (tie 7-7)
MV – Marsh 19-yard run (Tennant kick) – 9:23 (MV 14-7)
Second Quarter:
MV – Tyler Green 1-yard run (Tennant kick) – 11:57 (MV 21-7)
WNW – Jamar Martin 3-yard run (Arndt kick) – 5:12 (MV 21-14)
WNW – Arndt 39-yard field goal – 0:02 (MV 21-17)
Third Quarter:
MV – Tennant 28-yard field goal – 7:35 (MV 24-17)
Fourth Quarter:
MV – Marsh 24-yard run (Tennant kick) – 11:35 (MV 31-17)
WNW – R. Jones 50-yard run (Arndt kick) – 9:35 (MV 31-24)
WNW – Zion Jones 19-yard pass from R. Jones (Arndt kick) – 9:02 (tie 31-31)
MV – Marsh 28-yard run (kick failed) – 5:21 (MV 37-31)
MV – Tennant 33-yard field goal – 0:29 (MV 40-31)
Wichita Northwest Mill Valley
First Downs 20 19
Rushing yards 43-278 48-323
Passing yards 179 107
Passes Att-Comp-INT 23-13-0 11-6-0
Total Offense 457 430
Fumble Return-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punt Return-Yards 1-5 0-0
Kickoff Return-Yards 1-12 4-69
Interception Return-Yards 0-0 0-0
Punts (Number-Avg) 4-37.0 4-25.8
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-Yards 8-80 2-25
Possession Time 21:50 26:10
Third-Down Conversions 4 of 13 6 of 13
Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 3 0 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 2-2 5-6
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING:
WNW: Reagan Jones 23-159; Jamar Martin 9-58; Julius Bolden 10-40; Zion Jones 1-21
MV: Cooper Marsh 22-183; Tyler Green 20-131; Quin Wittenauer 6-9
PASSING:
WNW: R. Jones 13-22-0, 179
MV: Marsh 6-11-0, 107
RECEIVING:
WNW: Zion Jones 6-85; Jalen Martin-Peterson 5-78; Kaleb Coleman 1-9; Jamar Martin 1-7
MV: Kendrick Jones 2-40; Jared Napoli 2-16; Zach Mills 1-27; Ty Reishus 1-24
TACKLES (total):
WNW: Jack Wiens 10; Todric McGee 8; Jacob Younkman 7; Malcolm Bell 6; Jared Givins 5; Darius Diaz 5; Zachary Daher 4; Nathan Carter 4; Nathan Hale 3; Michael Anthony 3; Eastyn Ruffin 2; Javon Wheeler 2; Wetu Kalomo 1; Martin Lopez 1; Jaden Wheeler 1
MV: Carson Caldwell 8; Grant Frost 8; Kolten Jegen 8; John McGuire 8; Kendal Christopher 7; Blake Martin 6; Justin Sanders 6; Cole Clauder 5; Ethan Kremer 4; Hunter Gray 2; Trey Wercester 2; Kendrick Jones 1; Cole Knappen 1
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