Stuart Steele/Sun Photo
Blue Valley West senior running back Brandon Abbott eludes the grasp of Wichita Bishop Carroll linebacker Timmy Chad for a fourth quarter touchdown in the Kansas 5A State Championship game at Emporia State University. The Jaguars added another touchdown moments later for the 31-19 victory and a 13-0 finish to their season.
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Defense lifts BV West to first state football title
Charles Redfield, Associate Sports Editor
EMPORIA - Chalk this victory up to the defense and special teams.
Blue Valley West did not show a lot of offense Saturday afternoon in the Class 5A state title game in Fran Welch Stadium.
The Jaguars took advantage of two fumble recoveries, two pass interceptions, a punt return for a touchdown and a blocked punt to beat Wichita Bishop Carroll 31-19.
The final score is closer than the game proved to be. The Eagles scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes against the Jaguars reserves.
The victory gave the Jaguars their first state football title and their first unbeaten season in this the seventh year for the school. They finished the season with a 13-0 record.
Senior defensive end Josh Copp had an outstanding game. He had four sacks, one forced fumble, four tipped passes and a blocked punt.
“We were fired up for the game,” Copp said. “They (coaches) gave me the opportunity to do what I do best.”
Coach Scott Wright said, “He was just outstanding, but that is what great players do in a big game. He stepped it up in this game.”
Copp now has two state titles. He played on the Jaguars’ 6A state basketball championship team.
His forced fumble and blocked punt came at crucial points in the game.
BV West scored 17 second quarter points to lead 17-0 at the halftime intermission.
The Eagles drove 67 yards in 11 plays on their first drive in the third quarter to cut the lead to 10 at 17-7.
Wichita Carroll’s Nick Seiler partially blocked Zach Shriwise’s punt after the Jaguars were unable to move the ball in three plays after the touchdown.
The Eagles got the ball on the Jaguars’ 43 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.
They had the ball on the BV West 24 and faced a second and five.
Quarterback Brett Stevens looked to run for the first down, but Copp knocked the ball out and senior Hunter Bakke recovered at the Jaguars 24.
The Jaguars moved the ball after the recovery, but senior quarterback Mike Besler had his pass intercepted at the eight by Chad Duling. He returned the ball to his own 38.
Wichita Carroll moved to a first down at the 50, but the drive stalled.
Copp blocked David Ternes’ punt and senior Joey Arkeilpane picked up the ball and advanced it to the 30.
It took the Jaguars just seven plays to cover the 30 yards. Senior Brandon Abbott scored from the seven with 4:36 left in the game.
Besler boomed the ensuing kickoff into the end zone.
On the first play from the 20, junior defensive back Josh Swartz intercepted Steven’s pass at the 30 and returned it for a touchdown with 4:27 left in the game.
The Eagles scored two touchdowns at the end of the game as Coach Wright tried to get as many players in the state championship game as possible.
Both teams had chances in the first quarter to score.
The Eagles moved the ball in their first possession. They had a fourth and 12 from the Jaguars 28. Steven completed the pass for a first down, but he had stepped over the line of scrimmage nullifying the play.
The penalty includes loss of down, so the Jaguars took over at the 26.
The Jaguars moved the ball with four first downs. The last first down came on a 19-yard pass from Besler to senior Aaron Ashley to the 12.
After senior Todd Harmon picked up two yards, Besler’s pass bounced off a receiver’s hands and into the hands of Dustin Moses at the two.
The game turned on the last play of the first quarter.
Steven connected with Adam Brand for a 29-yard gain on a third and six play from his own 31.
Ashley forced Brand to fumble and Bakke recovered at the Jaguars’ 37.
Besler and junior Brian Grover connected on a 39-yard pass to Eagles’ 24.
They got just one yard in three plays, but Besler drilled a 35-yard field goal with 10:08 left in the first half to make it 3-0.
Wichita Carroll made one first down after the ensuing kickoff.
On third and two at the 30, senior JD Holland sacked Steven for a seven-yard loss.
Ternes’ 29-yard punt came to senior Mark Rogers. He eluded several tacklers around the 50 and raced into the end zone. His 52-yard punt return made it 10-0 with 6:28 remaining in the first half.
On the second play from scrimmage, Holland sacked Steven and Baake recovered at the 19.
It took the Jaguars four plays to score with Harmon bulling his way into the end zone from the two with 4:07 left in the second period.
The Jaguars had just 72 yards rushing in the game. Besler completed 10 of 21 passes for 160 yards. He had four intercepted, but three of them were tipped balls.
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EMPORIA - Chalk this victory up to the defense and special teams.
Blue Valley West did not show a lot of offense Saturday afternoon in the Class 5A state title game in Fran Welch Stadium.
The Jaguars took advantage of two fumble recoveries, two pass interceptions, a punt return for a touchdown and a blocked punt to beat Wichita Bishop Carroll 31-19.
The final score is closer than the game proved to be. The Eagles scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes against the Jaguars reserves.
The victory gave the Jaguars their first state football title and their first unbeaten season in this the seventh year for the school. They finished the season with a 13-0 record.
Senior defensive end Josh Copp had an outstanding game. He had four sacks, one forced fumble, four tipped passes and a blocked punt.
“We were fired up for the game,” Copp said. “They (coaches) gave me the opportunity to do what I do best.”
Coach Scott Wright said, “He was just outstanding, but that is what great players do in a big game. He stepped it up in this game.”
Copp now has two state titles. He played on the Jaguars’ 6A state basketball championship team.
His forced fumble and blocked punt came at crucial points in the game.
BV West scored 17 second quarter points to lead 17-0 at the halftime intermission.
The Eagles drove 67 yards in 11 plays on their first drive in the third quarter to cut the lead to 10 at 17-7.
Wichita Carroll’s Nick Seiler partially blocked Zach Shriwise’s punt after the Jaguars were unable to move the ball in three plays after the touchdown.
The Eagles got the ball on the Jaguars’ 43 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.
They had the ball on the BV West 24 and faced a second and five.
Quarterback Brett Stevens looked to run for the first down, but Copp knocked the ball out and senior Hunter Bakke recovered at the Jaguars 24.
The Jaguars moved the ball after the recovery, but senior quarterback Mike Besler had his pass intercepted at the eight by Chad Duling. He returned the ball to his own 38.
Wichita Carroll moved to a first down at the 50, but the drive stalled.
Copp blocked David Ternes’ punt and senior Joey Arkeilpane picked up the ball and advanced it to the 30.
It took the Jaguars just seven plays to cover the 30 yards. Senior Brandon Abbott scored from the seven with 4:36 left in the game.
Besler boomed the ensuing kickoff into the end zone.
On the first play from the 20, junior defensive back Josh Swartz intercepted Steven’s pass at the 30 and returned it for a touchdown with 4:27 left in the game.
The Eagles scored two touchdowns at the end of the game as Coach Wright tried to get as many players in the state championship game as possible.
Both teams had chances in the first quarter to score.
The Eagles moved the ball in their first possession. They had a fourth and 12 from the Jaguars 28. Steven completed the pass for a first down, but he had stepped over the line of scrimmage nullifying the play.
The penalty includes loss of down, so the Jaguars took over at the 26.
The Jaguars moved the ball with four first downs. The last first down came on a 19-yard pass from Besler to senior Aaron Ashley to the 12.
After senior Todd Harmon picked up two yards, Besler’s pass bounced off a receiver’s hands and into the hands of Dustin Moses at the two.
The game turned on the last play of the first quarter.
Steven connected with Adam Brand for a 29-yard gain on a third and six play from his own 31.
Ashley forced Brand to fumble and Bakke recovered at the Jaguars’ 37.
Besler and junior Brian Grover connected on a 39-yard pass to Eagles’ 24.
They got just one yard in three plays, but Besler drilled a 35-yard field goal with 10:08 left in the first half to make it 3-0.
Wichita Carroll made one first down after the ensuing kickoff.
On third and two at the 30, senior JD Holland sacked Steven for a seven-yard loss.
Ternes’ 29-yard punt came to senior Mark Rogers. He eluded several tacklers around the 50 and raced into the end zone. His 52-yard punt return made it 10-0 with 6:28 remaining in the first half.
On the second play from scrimmage, Holland sacked Steven and Baake recovered at the 19.
It took the Jaguars four plays to score with Harmon bulling his way into the end zone from the two with 4:07 left in the second period.
The Jaguars had just 72 yards rushing in the game. Besler completed 10 of 21 passes for 160 yards. He had four intercepted, but three of them were tipped balls.
Comments on "Defense lifts BV West to first state football title"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.BVW FAN wrote on Nov 26, 2007 10:14 PM:
" Out of all the papers that covered the game, your article was the best I've seen because it is the most accurate and more specific. Good Job. "
Moonfly wrote on Nov 26, 2007 11:04 AM:
" Basketball, Baseball, and now Football. Republican Club recognition. Music group awards. If they get their academics up a notch, they'll be a true Blue Valley school.
Congrats to the Football team. "