Kansas Football: Mill Valley 2019 Football Season Preview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
For most high school football programs, a 7-4 record can be considered a successful season. However, this is not the standard set at Mill Valley. The Jaguars are reloading with the aim of getting back to the glory days of 2015-16 when they won back to back Kansas 5A state championships. The 2019 roster only has eight starters returning from last season, but the caliber of talent returning might be enough to take the Jaguars on a deep playoff run.
Offense
The Jaguars scored 25 points a game in 2018, but will feature a new quarterback this season in junior Copper Marsh, who appeared in nine games last season. Marsh will join some experienced weapons on the offense including senior running back Tyler Green (5-10, 195), who ran for 695 yards on 134 carries and nine touchdowns. Ty Reishus (5-11, 175) will be the new go to target for Marsh after Mill Valley graduated their top five wide receivers from a year ago. The offensive line is anchored by senior Kyle Kelly (6-6, 230). Another offensive play maker for Jaguars will be junior running back Quin Wittenauer.
Defense
Mill Valley gave up 20 points per contest last season and return some skilled veterans in the front seven. On the defensive line, junior Ethan Kramer and senior Justin Sanders will wreak havoc in the trenches. Kramer notched 48 total tackles including 10.5 for a loss and three sacks while Sanders grabbed 23 tackles including 2.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks in 2018. Senior linebacker Carson Caldwell will be the new leader of linebackers after posting 37 total tackles including 4.5 for a loss in his junior campaign. Senior safeties Jack McGuire and Grant Frost will try and lock down the Jaguar secondary.
Schedule
September 6 vs Blue Valley West, Mill Valley High School
September 13 at St. James Academy
September 20 Bishop Miege, Mill Valley High School
September 27 St. Thomas Aquinas, Mill Valley High School
October 4 at Blue Valley North
October 11 Pittsburg, Mill Valley High School
October 18 at Blue Valley
October 25 at Blue Valley Southwest
With some of their tougher games at home, the Jaguars can certainly ride the wave of their returning stars and leaders and potentially eclipsed the 7-4 record in 2018 and contend for a state championship in 2019.
Photo credit: Shawnee Dispatch; Mill Valley RB Tyler Green makes a play against St. James Academy