Standout Performers From BVSW vs. Mill Valley
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Week 12 of the ’22 campaign brought us a matchup from the East side of the 5A bracket, as the top-seeded Mill Valley Jaguars (10-1) hosted the eleventh-seeded Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves (6-5) for the Sub-State Championship. The two squads…
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Continue ReadingWeek 12 of the ’22 campaign brought us a matchup from the East side of the 5A bracket, as the top-seeded Mill Valley Jaguars (10-1) hosted the eleventh-seeded Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves (6-5) for the Sub-State Championship.
The two squads entered the semifinal round on fire. Southwest’s offense had been on an absolute tear through three weeks of postseason play. Their point total increased each game, and they were averaging 55 points per contest. While that display of offensive firepower is impressive, Mill Valley had the defense to match it. Not only did the Jags’ defense dominate their first three opponents, but they did so in shutout fashion. The odds were stacked against the Timberwolves, but they were determined to continue their Cinderella run. However, the Jaguars had other plans, as the defending 5A State Champions had their sights set on a fourth straight Sub-State title.
It didn’t take long for the reigning champions to assert themselves in this one. After coming up with an interception early in the 1st quarter, the Jags would strike quickly on their first possession with a 44-yard touchdown run. These opening drives would be a precursor for what was to come the rest of the contest. Mill Valley’s stout defensive front made it extremely difficult for the Timberwolves to sustain any drives. The Jags won the battle in the trenches, and were able to dictate the pace of the game with their rushing attack. They took a commanding 35-0 lead into intermission, and would run away with the game in the second half; ending Southwest’s Cinderella run in a lopsided score of 63-0. Mill Valley completes their fourth straight shutout of the postseason, and are now just one win away from securing their sixth state championship in eight years.
Here’s a look at the Standout Performers from this 5A Sub-State matchup (Unofficial Stats).
Offense:
Tristan Baker Tristan Baker 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Mill Valley | 2024 State KS – Mill Valley, 5’9”, 170, RB, Class of ’24
This season Mill Valley has done a great job of distributing the football to all of their offensive playmakers. But in this game, Tristan Baker Tristan Baker 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Mill Valley | 2024 State KS was the star of the show. The junior takes home the Offensive MVP after having a career night on the ground. Mill Valley’s offensive line opened up some gaping holes for Baker, and he’d turn 22 carries into 239 yards and five first half touchdowns.
Amarian Graves – Mill Valley, 5’10”, 195, RB, Class of ’23
With the Jaguars already out to a sizable lead in the second half, they were able to give Baker some rest and turn to senior running back, Amarian Graves. The senior would pick up where Baker left off and continued the scoring. Graves nearly eclipsed 100 yards, as he finished with nine carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Parker Smith Parker Smith 5'7" | 165 lbs | RB Blue Valley SW | 2023 State KS & Alex Parks Alex Parks 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR Blue Valley Southwest | 2024 State KS – BVSW
The Jaguars’ defense virtually shutdown any momentum that Southwest had going, which prevented them from extending drives and getting on the scoreboard. While it was tough sledding for the Timberwolves throughout the game, senior running back Parker Smith Parker Smith 5'7" | 165 lbs | RB Blue Valley SW | 2023 State KS , and sophomore wideout, Alex Parks Alex Parks 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR Blue Valley Southwest | 2024 State KS , were able to provide a little bit of a spark for their struggling offense. Smith finished his final high school game with 83 yards rushing on 15 carries, and Parks would turn eight touches into 62 yards of total offense.
Defense:
Spencer Vaka Spencer Vaka 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Mill Valley | 2023 State KS & Jayden Woods Jayden Woods 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Mill Valley | 2025 State KS – Mill Valley
Mill Valley’s defense as a whole deserves a ton of credit for their performance in this one. But this pass rushing duo really set the tone. Senior Spencer Vaka Spencer Vaka 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Mill Valley | 2023 State KS and sophomore Jayden Woods Jayden Woods 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Mill Valley | 2025 State KS , had Dylan Dunn Dylan Dunn 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Blue Valley SW | 2024 State KS under duress through a majority of the game. The two defensive linemen were too much for the Timberwolves’ offensive line, as the two combined for four sacks.
Ryan Specht Ryan Specht 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Blue Valley Southwest | 2025 State KS & Trey Thomas Trey Thomas 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Blue Valley Southwest | 2024 State KS – BVSW
It was a rough night to say the least for Southwest’s defense. They struggled to stop the run, but the few times they did limit the Jags, sophomore Ryan Specht Ryan Specht 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Blue Valley Southwest | 2025 State KS was involved on the play. Specht finished as one of the leading tacklers for the Timberwolves, as he ended the game with over five total. Another Southwest defender that stood out was junior defensive back, Trey Thomas Trey Thomas 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Blue Valley Southwest | 2024 State KS . Mill Valley didn’t throw much, but when they did, Thomas nearly picked off Hayden Jay Hayden Jay 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Mill Valley | 2023 State KS twice.