Photo Credit: Lori Habiger/Center Stage Photography 
With Free State quarterback Boston Baker getting the ball out of his hands quickly for most of the night, the Mill Valley defensive line didn’t have many opportunities to generate pressure on the Firebirds signal caller. The Jaguar front four kept after it, though, and the hard work finally paid off for junior defensive lineman Hayden Heller with just over four minutes to go.
Heller’s sack put the Firebirds behind the sticks and Free State eventually turned it over on downs with 2:55 left at their own 19-yard line. The Jaguars scored three plays later (all Reggie Reece runs) to help seal their 31-23 victory over the Firebirds.
“It feels great. We fought all game,” Heller said. “There’s nothing better than coming back. We had a bad first half, obviously, but we’re shored ourselves up, got the energy up and got the win.”
The Jaguars got punched in the mouth almost immediately, as the Firebirds needed only 18 seconds to get on the scoreboard. Boston Baker threw an out-route to Bralin Preston, and Preston did the rest on a 72-yard touchdown catch. Baker connected with Preston for two touchdown passes in the first half to give the Firebirds a 17-14 lead going into the break. The Jaguars only allowed two Yusef Iskandrani field goals the rest of the way, though, as the Mill Valley defense focused on limiting big plays from the balanced Free State receiving corps.
“I’m very proud of their effort,” Mill Valley coach Joel Applebee said. “They continue to give great effort every single day. We just need to clean the little things—the mistakes. A lot of it comes with experience. We’re experiencing this right now, but we’ll clean them up. There’s no doubt. And that’s a good football team (Free State), no question.”
The Jaguars (2-1) took their first lead with 9:44 remaining when Andy Watts hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Connor Bohon to put Mill Valley up 24-17. Watts had six catches for 59 yards and the touchdown and two carries 28 rushing yards.
“Reggie is awesome, but it’s great to be a guy that’s relied upon on third downs and stuff,” Watts said. “I’m just going to keep doing that and we’ll be good.”
Mill Valley scored their other touchdowns on the ground—two from Reece and one from Bohon. Reece rumbled for 159 yards on 25 carries.
The Firebirds (1-2) did much of their damage through the air, especially in the first half. Baker completed 29 of 45 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Preston was his top target with 14 receptions for 195 yards. Aside from a 52-yard catch from Maddon Brittingham, the Jaguars were able to limit big plays from the Firebirds in the second half. Applebee showed his confidence in his defense by punting the ball away on 4th and 1 from the Free State 45-yard line with 4:30 to go, leading 24-20.
“We needed to punt that to get them in longer field position,” Applebee said. “With the way our defense was playing, there was never a doubt in my mind.”
Mill Valley will try to keep rolling against Shawnee Mission South in 7 p.m. road tilt on Friday. Free State will try to get back to .500 at 7 p.m. Friday in a home matchup against Olathe Northwest.
