Photo Credit: Todd Habiger/Special to PrepsKC 
On homecoming night in Shawnee with eyes across the state fixated on what would become of a matchup pitting the No. 1 team in 6A against the No. 1 team in 5A, visiting Gardner Edgerton erased every bit of anticipated drama in an instant, bullying Mill Valley 49-10 on Friday night.
In somewhat eerie fashion, it marks the worst margin of defeat for the six-time state champion Jaguars since being toppled by Blue Valley 49-9 on the very same day back in 2017. And for the victorious Trailblazers, it's a sign that last year's 6A runners-up are very much back and very much here to stay.
"We don't really care what anybody rates us, but hopefully it sends the message that we should be the top dog," junior quarterback Bravin Powell stated afterwards.
"We really wanted to attack them," continued the quarterback who threw four touchdown passes in the win. "All week long we worked on being the aggressor. That's our big thing, we want to make teams want to quit."
For those in attendance, the relentlessness from Gardner Edgerton was evident from the opening series. Senior receiver Randy Singleton put his squad up 7-0 just a few plays into the game on a 48-yard catch and run, then broke loose from a tackle four minutes later to take a 46-yard pass to the house. By first quarter's end the scoreboard read 14-0 and the onslaught had just begun.
"We knew coming in they're a really good team that had some skill kids that concerned us," Mill Valley head coach Joel Applebee said in a rare defeat. "Really what it comes down to is we have to tackle better and have to play more physical all the way around."
"I don't know that I would've anticipated that being the outcome score wise," Gardner Edgerton head coach Jesse Owen said. "We tip our hat to Coach Applebee and his program for their consistency. We knew we had to play well since they don't beat themselves."
Were it not for a late hit penalty that kept a second quarter drive alive for the Jaguars, eventually leading to a 27-yard field goal from Kenten Laughman, Mill Valley might have been blanked in the first half. Gardner Edgerton sophomore tailback Syre Padilla found the end zone racing down the home sideline on a 47-yard run but was quickly one-upped by his quarterback the next possession as Powell took it 51-yards himself. Then it was Singleton yet again with under 2:00 left in the first half, forcing a missed tackle with a hesitation move that brought the score to 35-3 on a 42-yard reception.
"I was pleased with all three areas," Owen noted in review. "Our defense flew around and tackled well again. Our offense did a really nice job handling the football, and I'm proud of those guys for taking care of the football. Kicking game was terrific as well."
Any hope of a miraculous comeback quickly evaporated early in the third quarter when Gardner Edgerton converted a 4th & 1 during Mill Valley's best defensive stand to that point. Further driving home the fact it simply was not the Jaguars night came later in the same series when Mill Valley's defensive star Jayden Woods finally found the backfield and dropped Powell, only to see the quarterback release a 39-yard touchdown strike to senior Colton Hawkinson before hitting the turf.
At 42-3, the Trailblazers defense continued to shine by laying hit after punishing hit, an element that fueled the entire roster according to Singleton.
"Every game our defense brings it," cheered the playmaker. "Shout out Coach [Brian] McCall because they bring it every game."
In defeat, Applebee remained confident in his locker room and recognized that, albeit infrequently, the program has been here before.
"We've got a lot of history where they can draw from because we've had teams that have bounced back from stuff like that," he says. "I have no doubt that they'll bounce back because it's a great group of kids, but now we see what we have to get better at."
For the victors, another unbeaten in Olathe North lies ahead next week.
"The win feels great but after tomorrow it's over," finished Singleton. "Media will talk about it but we have to turn around and dig in for next week."
