ShawneeDispatch.com

During the first half Friday night, the Mill Valley football team looked like a state playoff contender. For much of the second half Basehor-Linwood did the same.

Mill Valley senior running back Nick Woods proved to be the difference, however, as he ran for two touchdowns and returned a kickoff for another score in a 28-14 Jaguar victory at Basehor.

Woods ran for 208 yards on 29 carries and also had an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

"That young man is really a good player; (he) was the difference tonight," Basehor coach Steve Hopkins said of Woods.

Ask Woods about his performance, however, and he pointed elsewhere for the credit. Specifically, he identified the offensive line.

"They work tremendously hard," Woods said. "I have to give all my credit, all my yards, to them because without them I wouldn't be able to do what I did out there. It's a team effort."

The initial impact play came from the Mill Valley defense. On the third play of the game Tanner Rainbolt picked off a Brandon Leppke pass that deflected off a receiver's hands. Rainbolt returned it 14 yards to the 17-yard line. Four plays later Luke Lawyer scored on a quarterback sneak from a yard out. The extra point try was blocked by Derek Shandy, but Mill Valley led 6-0 less than three minutes into the game.

The Jaguars' lead grew to 9-0 on a 22-yard field goal by Mark Biesma late in the first quarter.

The Mill Valley defense forced a three-and-out on the Bobcats' next possession. Kyle Savner boomed a 48-yard punt that appeared to set the Jaguars back. One play later, Woods squirted up the middle and left the defense in the dust for a 78-yard touchdown dash. The 2-point conversion failed, and the Jaguars led 15-0 with 11:49 left in the second quarter. That lead held up through halftime.

The Bobcats pulled within 15-6 with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Woods returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. Again the 2-point conversion was unsuccessful, but the lead was 21-6.

Basehor scored again with 3:53 left in the third quarter to pull within 21-14. A 14-yard touchdown run by Woods with 3:47 left put the game away.

Mill Valley (2-1 overall, 2-0 Kaw Valley League) next plays at 7 p.m. Friday at Bonner Springs (2-1, 2-1).

NORTH FALLS IN OVERTIME

Shawnee Mission North stormed back from a huge early deficit, only to fall in overtime to Leavenworth, 33-27, on Friday night at Abeles Field.

North fell behind 20-0 before quarterback Arthur Rucker and running back O.J. Shields keyed the furious comeback.

The Indians still trailed 27-20 with 1:59 left in regulation, but a 36-yard pass from Rucker to Matt Oropeza set up the game-tying run by Shields.

North got the ball first in overtime but turned it over with a fumble. Three plays later Leavenworth scored.

The Indians fell to 1-2 with the loss. They next play at 7 p.m. Friday against Olathe East (3-0) at the Olathe District Activity Center.

THUNDER IMPROVE TO 2-1

St. James Academy scored 26 points in the first half and then hung on for a 26-13 victory at Atchison.

The Thunder struck quickly in the first quarter as quarterback Jim Getto connected with wide receiver Christian Mata for a 27-yard touchdown. Mata kicked the extra point and gave St. James a 7-0 lead.

Atchison answered minutes later with its own 27-yard touchdown pass as Charlie Schneider found Daris Calhoon for the score. Drew Eckert's extra point was good and the score was tied 7-7.

St. James established control of the game with a dominant second quarter through the air and on the ground.

Getto found Ben Reynoldson for a 31-yard touchdown reception. Then Avril Morrisette scored on a 40-yard run. Shortly before halftime Getto connected with Daniel Kindel for a 23-yard score. With that, the lead ballooned to 26-7 by intermission.

St. James (2-1) hits the road for a 7 p.m. Friday contest at O'Hara (Mo.) High.

NOWAK SPARKS COUGARS

Two weeks ago he was in charge of extra points, field goals and kickoffs. This week he's the new Cougar field general.

In his first varsity start at quarterback, Shawnee Mission Northwest junior signal-caller Matt Nowak set the bar high for future performances on Friday night as he connected on nine of 12 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Cougars outlast Lawrence Free State, 34-27, at Shawnee Mission North District Stadium.

Nowak threw no interceptions on the night and was aided by the efforts of senior tailback Bryce Atagi who rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries and hauled in one of Nowak's passes for a 63-yard scoring reception. The win propelled the Cougars to a 2-1 record.

The Cougars will play host to Lawrence at 7 p.m. Friday at Shawnee Mission North District Stadium.