Mill Valley has enjoyed status as the state’s gold standard program during the last decade, particularly the past four years.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach Weston Schartz is a legend in Wichita, and Crusader senior running back Omari Elias has set a new level of excellence for City League rushing.
On Saturday, Mill Valley (10-2) faces Kapaun Mt. Carmel (11-1) at Pittsburg State University for the Class 5A state championship.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 P.M. from Carnie Smith Stadium.
Mill Valley has captured the last four 5A state crowns and is 6-0 all-time in state title games in the Joel Applebee era. Applebee has the most state titles without a loss in state history, per Kpreps research and historian Brett Marshall.
KMC has won nine state crowns, though last appeared in a state game in 1987.
Mill Valley won a classic, 48-47, against Blue Valley Southwest last week. On the final play of the game, quarterback Daniel Blaine ran right and dove into the end zone for a game-winning seven-yard TD run.
The Jaguars are 125-38 under Applebee and have continually been able to replace major graduation losses each year. Mill Valley had statistically the state’s best defense in ’22 and defensive coordinator Drew Hudgins left for the Blue Valley North head coaching position. Plus, standout defensive lineman Truman Griffth, a Kansas State commit, was injured in the preseason and has missed the year.
However, Mill Valley has retooled behind its experienced offensive front that includes Gus Hawkins (6-7, 290) and Mason Kemp (6-6, 205). Hawkins has committed to Kansas State.
Mill Valley is known for its running game and has run the ball on 85 percent of plays, easily the highest under Applebee. Last year, the Jaguars had a 77 percent run rate. Senior Tristan Baker has 196 carries for 1,553 yards and 22 scores, though left last week’s semifinal with an injury.
Blaine has played in a two-quarterback system during the fall and has 77 carries for 792 yards and 12 scores. Junior Connor Bohon has also shared time at quarterback with 73 carries for 626 yards and 13 TDs.
Junior Jayden Woods has a bevy of high-major Division I offers and has yielded 61 tackles, 10 for loss, 11 hurries, 10 sacks, eight passes defended and two forced fumbles. Seniors Sam Colletti (10 TFLs) and Evan Seifert (team-high 74 stops) have played well on defense, too.
Mill Valley has allowed 20 points per game, while Kapaun has allowed 25.
Schartz stands at 230-136 in 37 years and has revitalized Kapaun football. Schartz has never won a state football title, though has raised multiple Wichita schools.
In 2019, Kapaun finished 2-7, tied for the school’s fewest wins since 1956. Schartz took over the following year and led the Crusaders to 7-2, 10-2 and 5-5 seasons the last three falls. Last year, the Crusaders lost three games by 10 points or fewer and was tagged as a Kpreps Potential Breakout Team earlier this August.
Kapaun leads the classification with 583 points and has continually captured close games after a seven-point defeat in Week 3. In the last five weeks, the Crusaders won by 12, 56, two, 10 and three points. The Crusaders have scored at least 33 points in every game.
KMC, Wichita East and Wichita Northwest each shared the City League title. The Crusaders also won the Holy War, beating rival Bishop Carroll for the first time since 1999 and ending a 26-game losing streak in the series.
Elias is Kansas’ consensus best running back and on the short list for best overall player. He has committed to Air Force. Elias has rushed for 363 carries for 2,820 yards and 37 scores. Senior quarterback Dylan Hamilton, like Elias, is a three-year starter. Elias has rushed for 6,132 career yards, per MaxPreps, the all-time best in City League history.
Last week, Kapaun faced Goddard-Eisenhower, which has led 5A in scoring defense most of the year. Elias ran 43 times for 259 yards and four scores. The Crusaders led 42-17 in the fourth quarter.
In the state quarterfinals, Kapaun allowed 588 total yards to Maize South and trailed 47-43 in the fourth quarter before Elias tallied a pair of rushing scores for the 57-47 win. In that game, Elias rushed 38 times for 337 yards and six scores.
In the Round of 16, Kapaun held off Great Bend, 36-34, and was also outgained in the contest. The Crusaders have benefited from several non-offensive scores at key times, including an interception return for a score in their 43-29 early-season win over Wichita East.
Kapaun has won nine straight since its lone loss of the season, 42-35 to Wichita Northwest.
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