Jaguars defeat Derby in ‘Cousin Bowl,’ improve to 3-0
Jaguar defense comes up big in last four minutes to hang on for 27-20 victory
September 21, 2015
The cousins stood in the light of the concession stand after the 27-20 Jaguar victory over Derby High School. Head coaches Joel Applebee and Brandon Clark, who are good friends as well, didn’t talk too much about winning and losing in what is likely the last of the “Cousin Bowl” series for a while. Both were just happy with the way the players played on both teams.
“I’m proud of the way our kids competed tonight more than anything,” Applebee said. “They played great; a lot of different times it was an up and down game … I’m proud of them and the way they competed.”
The Panthers took the lead in the first quarter with a touchdown run. The score was 7-0, but only minutes later, senior kicker Andrew Hicks had a successful field goal, lessening the Jaguar’s deficit to 7-3.
With 9:35 to play in the first half, senior defensive lineman Anthony Brown put the Jaguars in the lead after he completed a pick-six. The extra point by Hicks was good, bringing the score to 10-7, Jaguars.
Interception by Anthony Brown run in for a touchdown, Jaguars take a 10-7 lead with 9:35 until half #cousinbowl
— Mill Valley News (@millvalleynews) September 19, 2015
The Panthers ran 19 yards to score a touchdown to take the lead back, 13-10, to end the half.
“We went in [the second half] saying ‘hey, we’re down by three. We didn’t play very well offensively, we played great defensively,’ and we made a few adjustments and our kids listened obviously, and we executed well the second half and that’s the reason why we won the second half,” Applebee said.
At halftime, seniors Chase Midyett and Megan Feuerborn were crowned Homecoming king and queen.
Possession started with the Panthers in the second half, but the Jaguars took over after a turnover on downs. Following the turnover on downs, junior running back Tristan Milne ran 42 yards for a touchdown. The Jaguars regained the lead early in the third quarter, 17-13.
42-yard carry by Tristan Milne for a touchdown, extra point is good and the Jaguars take a 17-13 lead #cousinbowl pic.twitter.com/UfbMoWa93I
— Mill Valley News (@millvalleynews) September 19, 2015
The third quarter ended with the Jaguars leading 20-13 after another successful field goal by Hicks.
Fourteen more points came in the fourth quarter. The Panthers tied the game at 20 after a touchdown with 9:45 to play. Only minutes later, a touchdown run by Milne after a pass from senior quarterback Logan Koch secured the 27-20 win for the Jaguars. The game ended with a defensive stand in the last four plays preventing Derby from tying the game in the final seconds.
Pass from Koch to Milne followed by a touchdown run. Jaguars take a 27-20 lead with 7:10 to play #cousinbowl
— Mill Valley News (@millvalleynews) September 19, 2015
Although Milne is proud of the team’s 3-0 start, he know there’s more to the season. The Jaguars have defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, Blue Valley Northwest and now Derby to start the season. In 2014, the team went 0-3 against the same teams.
“This isn’t the peak,” Milne said. “This is only the beginning, this this where the season kicks off. We can’t keep thinking about this game, we’ve got to move on to the next.”
Applebee agrees that the team must keep moving forward and not dwell in this win for too long.
“It’s great [to be 3-0],” Applebee said. “These kids have worked their tails off to get to this point so it’s well deserved, but at the same time now we’ve got to worry about the next opponent.”
The Jaguars will play KC Southwest next Friday, Sept. 25 at home.