CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
 
MILL VALLEY (11-1) VS. MAIZE (12-0)
 
1 p.m. Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg
 

AFTER LONG JOURNEY TO STATE FINAL, MAIZE QUICKLY RETURNS
 
As much as Maize coach Gary Guzman believed the Eagles were capable of returning to the Class 5A title game this season, he had at least equal confidence in who would join them.
 
“All year long, we’ve kind of been expecting that,” Guzman said of Maize’s second straight championship matchup with Mill Valley, winner of the last three 5A titles and five of the last seven. “It was just a matter of us getting there.
 
“We did a good job of focusing on one game at a time and now we’ve got ourselves there.”
 
Maize completed a long journey to its first championship game last season, living on the edge at times. The Eagles slipped past Kapaun Mt. Carmel by one point in the semifinals, scoring the winning points with 29 seconds to play.
 
The title game featured a different script, as Mill Valley scored the first 20 points and kept the Eagles at bay most of the game in a 28-14 victory.
 
Several talented Maize underclassmen left Pittsburg’s Carnie Smith Stadium with the battle scars of that experience, a disappointment that fueled preseason optimism for another run in 2022.
 
“That’s kind of been our goal since last year, to get back to the state championship game,” Guzman said. “I felt like we had the people to get it done and here we are, and we’re pretty excited about it.”
 
Led by Kansas State commit and All-State quarterback Avery Johnson, Maize has remained 5A’s lone unbeaten with a steady diet of dominating victories and a 52-51 thriller over Derby in which the Eagles erased a 20-point, first-half deficit. Johnson raised his season passing total to 2,620 yards last week during a 42-9 semifinal victory over Hays.
 
Johnson’s diverse set of primary receiving targets include seniors Bryce Cohoon, a Syracuse commit, and Justin Stephens, junior Jaeden Martin and sophomore Bryson Hayes. All have over 400 receiving yards.
 
Johnson, who has thrown for 29 touchdowns, has also run for 745 yards and 14 scores, and is complemented by the senior backfield duo of Daeshaun Carter and Tayveon Williams, who have combined for over 1,400 yards and 24 TDs.
 
“They’re pretty identical as far as their running styles,” Guzman said. “We don’t change our play-calling because one or the other is in there. They’ve been sharing the position and doing so well, they’re good friends, and that’s not always easy when you’re not always getting the carries that maybe you wish you were getting.”
 
It’s a level of self-sacrifice that has carried over to an experienced defense led by seniors Peyton Ritter, Caden Miranda, Connor Padgett and Cody Hughbanks. Miranda, who leads the Eagles with nine sacks, said a focus on working together helped Maize withstand its toughest postseason test, a 21-14 quarterfinal victory over Hutchinson.
 
In that game, the Eagles posted a second-half shutout despite Hutchinson running more than twice as many offensive plays as Maize and holding a 3-to-1 edge in time of possession.
 
 
MAIZE EAGLES (12-0)

COACH: Gary Guzman (13th year, 87-40)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: 1 runner-up finish – 2021 (5A)

2022 RESULTS

W,78-7 at Topeka High
W,42-14 at Andover Central
W,49-0 Newton
W,56-7 Salina South
W,63-26 at Maize South
W,52-51 at Derby
W,41-13 Hutchinson
W,59-14 Campus
W,63-0 Salina South (P)
W,43-14 Kapaun Mt. Carmel (P)
W,21-14 Hutchinson (P)
W,42-9 Hays (P)

2022 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 609 (50.8 per game)

Points allowed: 169 (14.1 per game)

Total offense: 5,413 yards (451.1 per game)

Rushing: 2,685 yards (223.8 per game), 45 TDs

Passing: 2,728 yards (227.3 per game), 30 TDs, 2 INTs

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Daeshaun Carter (sr.) 115 carries, 802 yards, 14 TDs; Avery Johnson (sr.) 87 carries, 745 yards, 14 TDs; Tayveon Williams (sr.) 86 carries, 604 yards, 10 TDs; Jaylen Mason (fr.) 23 carries, 254 yards, 2 TDs.

Passing: Avery Johnson (sr.) 138 of 204, 2,620 yards, 29 TDs, 2 INT.
 
Receiving: Bryce Cohoon (sr.) 31 catches, 812 yards, 8 TDs; Justin Stephens (sr.) 39 catches, 622 yards, 8 TDs; Bryson Hayes (so.) 18 catches, 567 yards, 8 TDs; Jaeden Martin (jr.) 29 catches, 414 yards, 2 TDs.

Tackles: Peyton Ritter (sr.) 91 tackles (5 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks; Caden Miranda (sr.) 77 tackles (35 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 9 sacks; Connor Padgett (sr.) 81 tackles (61 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Cody Hughbanks (sr.) 60 tackles (47 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Ayden Flores (jr.) 59 tackles (39 solo), 11 tackles for loss; Christian Hanson (jr.) 58 tackles (31 solo), 21 tackles for loss, 3 sacks; Elijah Cunningham (sr.) 53 tackles (25 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 4 sacks; Cooper Forrest (sr.) 53 tackles (34 solo), 2 tackles for loss.

Takeaways: CJ Felder (jr.) 4 INTs; Cody Hughbanks (sr.) 2 INTs; McKinley Joynes (sr.) 2 INTs, fumble recovery; Elijah Cunningham (sr.) 2 fumble recoveries; Christian Hanson (jr.) 2 fumble recoveries; Peyton Ritter (sr.) INT, fumble recovery; Ayden Flores (jr.) INT, fumble recovery.

Kicking: Mason Teague (so.) 4 of 6 FGs, 77 of 82 PATs.
 

MILL VALLEY LEANS ON HARD-WORKER MENTALITY IN QUEST FOR 4-PEAT
 
 Mill Valley will play in this state title game for the sixth time in the last eight years as the Jaguars try to complete a four-peat.

The Jaguars defense finished the regular season with just two offenses, Gardner-Edgerton and Olathe South, scoring multiple touchdowns against them — both maxed out at two scores — while delivering two shutout victories.

Now Mill Valley has won four straight playoff games without giving up a single point.

The last team to score against them in the postseason is the same team they’ll face in Pittsburg.

Mill Valley will play in a rematch of last year’s state final against Maize, which the Jaguars won 28-14.

Mill Valley already had a similar experience when the Jaguars faced Wichita Northwest in a state title game rematch two years ago.

“But in the end though, we really need to focus on this year,” Mill Valley head coach Joel Applebee said. “We try to keep focused on the now and not what’s happened in the past. In fact, these seniors, they want to leave their own legacy.”

However, the past might still be a big motivator for their opponents.

Maize already avenged its only other loss of the 2021 season, repaying a one-point loss to Derby with a one-point win over the Panthers in Week 6.

Senior quarterback Avery Johnson has looked unstoppable on his way to 2,620 passing yards, 745 rushing yards and a combined 43 touchdowns this year.

Johnson was even quite a handful for the Jaguars last year, but his 248 passing yards, 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns were not enough to overcome the two interceptions he threw in the game.

So far this year, Johnson has only thrown two interceptions all season.

“He is good, probably the best I’ve ever seen,” Applebee said. “It’s going to be a tremendous challenge. Not only is he good, his receivers are good. Really, really good.”

Applebee said he has no doubt that his own quarterback will be hyped up about having a quarterback duel against Johnson on Saturday.

“Hayden’s never actually said that, but I think any competitor, in the back of your mind, no doubt,” Applebee said. “Hayden is one of the most competitive kids that we’ve had in that position. I would assume in the back of his mind … he has a little chip on his shoulder wanting to prove something.”

Applebee said that first and foremost, however, Jay is a mature kid who wants to play really well in any game and be a strong leader for his team.

“One of the most competitive kids, probably one of the best leaders we’ve ever had at that position as well,” Applebee said. “He knows that he needs to be a great leader for us on Saturday.”

Jay enters this game with 1,324 passing yards and 14 touchdowns to seven interceptions, along with 485 rushing yards and 14 scores on the ground. His stats are not as eye-popping as last year, but he really hasn't needed them to be.

Jay and the Jaguars offense have trusted a bulk of the workload to Tristan Baker. The junior running back 1,317 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns this season.

Applebee said Baker does a great job of understanding Mill Valley’s schemes and where he’s supposed to fit into those schemes.

“He is a quiet kid, but he is humble and works extremely hard,” Applebee said. “He takes practice reps like he would a game rep and that really helps him a lot once he gets to Friday nights, or Saturday afternoon in this case.”

Applebee said that the key for this team will be the players trusting the game plan and knowing that that should be enough to beat a talented Maize team.

“We have to keep the focus on us, keep the focus on our improvement this week,” Applebee said. “We respect Maize. They’re a very good team. We understand that and our kids understand that.

“But we gotta work on us and make sure that we’re making improvements on what we want to do. I think if our kids keep focused on the day-to-day process this week, we’ll let the chips fall where they may on Saturday.” MILL VALLEY JAGUARS (11-1)

COACH: Joel Applebee (13th year, 114-36)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: 5 state titles – 2021 (5A), 2020 (5A), 2019 (5A), 2016 (5A), 2015 (5A)

2022 RESULTS

W,40-0 at Olathe Northwest
W,65-7 SM West
W,51-0 SM Northwest
W,35-14 at Gardner-Edgerton
W,38-13 Olathe South
W,58-6 at SM South
L,20-16 Olathe North
W,63-3 at SM East
W,69-0 KC Harmon (P)
W,24-0 Shawnee Heights (P)
W,49-0 Pittsburg (P)
W,63-0 Blue Valley Southwest (P)


2022 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 571 (47.6 per game)

Points allowed: 63 (5.3 per game)

Total offense: 4,653 yards (387.8 per game)

Rushing: 3,306 yards (275.5 per game), 51 TDs

Passing: 1,347 yards (112.3 per game), 14 TDs, 7 INTs

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Tristan Baker (jr.) 190 carries, 1,317 yards, 20 TDs; Amarian Graves (sr.) 95 carries, 636 yards, 10 TDs; Hayden Jay (sr.) 93 carries, 485 yards, 14 TDs.

Passing: Hayden Jay (sr.) 87 of 150, 1,324 yards, 14 TDs, 7 INTs.
 
Receiving: Hayes Miller (sr.) 37 catches, 587 yards, 7 TDs; Preston Oliver (sr.) 6 catches, 141 yards; Tristan Baker (jr.) 10 catches, 139 yards, 2 TDs; Brody Brigham (so.) 7 catches, 79 yards, 3 TDs.

Tackles: Broc Worcester (sr.) 95 tackles (35 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss; Noah Coy (sr.) 78 tackles (32 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks; Mikey Bergeron (sr.) 57 tackles (18 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss; Holden Zigmant (sr.) 55 tackles (20 solo); Jayden Woods (so.) 46 tackles (15 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks; Grant Rutkowski (sr.) 45 tackles (8 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks; Mark Bauer (sr.) 40 tackles (13 solo); Dylan Massey (sr.) 40 tackles (14 solo); Truman Griffith (jr.) 34 tackles (10 solo), 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks; Spencer Vaka (sr) 33 tackles (7 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss5.5 sacks.

Takeaways: Dylan Massey (sr.) 3 INTs; Holden Zigmant (sr.) 2 INTs, fumble recovery; Broc Worcester (sr.) 3 fumble recoveries; Mikey Bergeron (sr. (2 INTs); Jayden Woods (so.) 2 fumble recoveries.

Kicking: Kenten Laughman (jr.) 7 of 9 FGs; 66 of 70 PATs.