Jaguars turn in another solid season

By Dion Clisso PrepsKC Managing Editor
Posted: April 14, 2012 - 3:42 PM



It was a season of improvement for Mill Valley in 2011. The Jaguars made it to the playoffs for the fourth straight year and improved their overall record by one game.
Mill Valley opened the season with a perfect 5-0 mark before losing a big Kaw Valley League showdown game with Basehor-Linwood 42-21. The Jaguars then fell to Bishop Miege the next week 41-7 for their only two losses of the season.
Mill Valley would win its next two games to finish second in the district to Miege before losing to Shawnee Heights in the first round of the Kansas Class 5A playoffs for the second straight year.
Second-year head coach Joel Applebee there were several positives that came out of the 2011 season.
“Seeing these young men work hard to improve on a daily basis was very rewarding,” Applebee said. “Obviously getting back to the playoffs was very good for our program as well.”
The strong 7-3 season could be a sign that more good things are on the way. The Jaguars had only 11 seniors with five of those who saw time as starters. Quarterback Sklyer Windmiller is back after a junior season where he threw for 2,128 yards and 25 touchdowns with only four interceptions.
The offseason focus has been in the weight room and focusing on getting better as the season goes on.
“Our young men made a point to become more physical and I thought we made some progress in that area,” Applebee said. “Now we could definitely continue to improve in that category, and I see them working this offseason to do just that. Also, as we always have in our program, we want to improve from the beginning of the season to the end of the season in all facets of our game. I thought we did a fairly good job of that.
“We really need to continue to work in the weight room this offseason to become more physical and athletic. That will allow us to accomplish some of the goals that are set for our program in 2012. I feel they have a very good start on that already. Also, we need to take every day to get better once the summer hits.”
This year the Jaguars schedule will change slightly. The Jaguars play the same tough Kaw Valley Schedule but move into a district with Schlagle, Washington and Lansing. Mill Valley will open the season with a good non-conference matchup at Manhattan.
Mill Valley
8/31       @ Manhattan
9/7         Turner
9/14       Basehor-Linwood
9/21       @ Tonganoxie
9/28       @ Bonner Springs
10/5       Piper
10/12     @ Schlagle
10/19     Washington
10/26     Lansing