ShawneeDispatch.com

The resume itself was impressive for the Mill Valley High School football team in 2007.

A 6-3 record; an upset victory over state power St. Thomas Aquinas; a near-miss at making the Class 5A state playoffs.

Keep in mind the Jaguars did most of that damage with six starters on the sideline with injuries.

Now keep in mind that seven starters return on defense and eight are back on offense.

On paper the Jaguars look like one of the early favorites to win the Kaw Valley League and advance to the state playoffs - if they can just stay healthy this season. On that front, so far so good.

"We went through our first four days and I don't know that anybody's got a bruise yet," MVHS coach George Radell said. "The weather's been just a really good temperature for learning, not necessarily for conditioning and getting ready for a humid Friday night football game, but we've been able to learn and focus into assignments. The weather's cooperated and we haven't used any tape on a player yet, so it's all going pretty smooth."

A quick glance at the Jaguars' schedule leaves little doubt the road will get bumpier as the season progresses. After all, they open their season at 7 p.m. Friday at defending Class 5A state champion Blue Valley West.

"As we put that schedule together we had the opportunity to play schools with lower enrollments, but that's the route we wanted to go," Radell said of playing bigger schools. "We wanted to play up. We were looking in our opener for a 5A or 6A football team, and it just so happened it's the returning 5A state champion."

Thanks to the improvement of the Kaw Valley League in recent years, the road won't get any easier. The Jaguars play Piper, Basehor-Linwood, Bonner Springs, Turner and Lansing in league action. Of those schools, Basehor, Bonner and Lansing all made the state playoffs in 2007.

Atchison - a regular participant in the Class 4A playoffs - also is on the schedule.

"As far as competitiveness, it's the toughest schedule ever played because there's going to be a competitive opponent every week," Radell said. "You can't take any nights off with a half-hearted effort and not pay for it."

Radell, however, isn't worried about his players taking a night off. Mill Valley has had its share of solid football teams in recent years, but Radell said this might be the closest squad he has coached as far as the team's off-the-field camaraderie is concerned.

"I think that goes back to being friends for years, running with each other and buddies back in elementary school, and they stuck together," Radell said. "They were in the classroom today (Thursday, Aug. 21) talking about 'oh, do you remember seventh grade when this happened in a football game?' That's the group that they've got. If you've got one working for the other and you throw in your fundamentals and hard work, you're going to be pretty good."

The Jaguars return players at key positions. Among them are junior quarterback Luke Lawyer and senior tailback Nick Woods, the Kaw Valley League's leading rusher in 2007. Both players missed time with injuries last year.

The defense also will be loaded as inside linebackers Shay Miller and Slobodan Kanatzar - both of whom tore ACL's in 2007 - are back and healthy. Outside linebackers Justin Muldoon and Kellen Kinnamon also return. So do cornerback Tanner Rainbolt and defensive ends Matt Acree and Chris Mayer.

In addition, Radell said the Jaguars have numerous other players who saw extensive action as reserves in 2007 that will play key roles this year. The total package, he said, is an extremely talented football team.

"I think we have some of the best football players that's come through MV in the last eight seasons, and that's a fact," he said.

The Jaguars have their sights set on winning a Kaw Valley League title in 2008, but their goals are much bigger than that given their returning talent pool. They play in a new Class 5A district this year, one that includes Lansing, Schlagle and Washington. The Jaguars plan on winning the district title and moving on to the state playoffs. The top two teams in each district are playoff-bound.

Ultimately, Radell said, how far the Jaguars go comes down to staying healthy.

"If we're healthy, sure we think we're a team that of the four (in the district) can certainly compete to win the district in addition to just advancing (to the playoffs)," Radell said. "I don't think our goal is to advance to the playoffs by coming out No. 2. I think we want to win that district and come out with a No. 1 seed - but you have to stay healthy. You can't be playing your last three games without six starters."