photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Jaxon Becker attempts to make a long catch against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

Lawrence football (0-4) had a rough night trying to stop the run against Mill Valley (3-1), as the Jaguars beat the Lions 42-21 at home on Friday.

The Lions struggled to stop the run in the first half and then to play cleanly in the second half as penalties mounted. Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said the team has improved its overall execution, but that there were too many unforced errors in the game.

“It isn’t for a lack of effort,” Thoren said. “We have a chance to be pretty dang good if we put it together. They stood toe-to-toe with them, and that’s what I’m proud of.”

Mill Valley received the initial kickoff and started with the ground game on offense. Lawrence gave up two big runs in the first drive but held the Jaguars to a third-and-1 at midfield. Mill Valley quarterback Blake Jay kept the ball on an option and ran into LHS territory but lost control of the ball, and the Lions pounced on it.

Lawrence went three-and-out on its first drive and returned the ball to Mill Valley, which drove down the field and scored again.

Lawrence started its second drive with a big 34-yard run from senior running back Tahj Edwards, but the Lions didn’t go anywhere over the next two plays. Lawrence sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley took an 18-yard sack on third-and-10, just outside of field goal range, and forced the Lions to punt.

Mill Valley scored again, utilizing the read option with Jay and running back Max Piva. The few times that Lawrence had a linebacker shoot through the offensive line and tackle Piva, Jay kept the ball.

Dooley completed his first pass on the drive, a 5-yard throw to senior receiver Khyree McGee. Dooley ran for a tough four yards on the next play which closed the opening quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Dooley threw a pick-6, giving Mill Valley a 21-0 lead.

The Lions committed to the ground game on their next drive. Edwards started with a 42-yard run on the first play, and Dooley added another 17, with the final 3 yards resulting in a touchdown.

Mill Valley marched downfield again with Jay and Piva. In the red zone, senior linebacker Jadin Harrell tackled Piva for a loss and the defense held the Jaguars to a fourth-and-goal. Jay took a read option off the left side of the offensive line and scored for the fourth touchdown of the opening half.

Dooley threw a go ball to senior receiver Jaxon Becker, who drew the pass-interference call and gave the Lions 15 yards. A 4-yard pass from Dooley to junior receiver Ethan Curry brought up a first down at the LHS 40-yard line. On a third-and-9, Dooley scrambled for 21 yards to get the ball to the Mill Valley 38-yard line.

Becker drew a second pass-interference flag. He then caught a 20-yard pass to put the Lions at the 3-yard line. Edwards carried it to the 1-yard line, and he took it the rest of the way on the next play.

The series was a perfect four-minute drive, with the Lions scoring and only leaving 29.7 seconds left in the half. Mill Valley ran the ball and decided to run out the clock after the play to head into halftime.

Lawrence started with the ball but didn’t get far on the opening drive and brought out the punt team. On the play, the Jaguars muffed the ball, and Lawrence’s Mason McClure fell on it to give the team a first-and-10 at the Mill Valley 37-yard line.

Following a short run by Dooley, the Lions were called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which pushed the team back into LHS territory. The Lions didn’t get any yards after and punted the ball again.

Penalties were a constant problem for the Lions. Multiple drives for Mill Valley were extended because of penalties on Lawrence, and the Lions also put themselves behind the sticks. Thoren said the lack of discipline wasn’t something he anticipated based on practices.

“We gave them way too much on 15-yard penalties,” Thoren said. “We have to be more disciplined.”

For the first time in the game, Lawrence forced Mill Valley to punt. Senior linebackers Harrell and Josh Galbreath came up with big tackles on the drive, which held the Jaguars out of the red zone.

“I thought we did a damn good job in the second half,” Thoren said of the team’s run defense. “They did a good job in the second half — we were frustrating them in the second half. I was proud of the way we stepped up.”

Lawrence nearly had a 22-yard completion to Curry, but an offensive pass interference and an offensive holding on the play pushed the Lions back to a third-and-22.

Dooley stepped up in the pocket and delivered a throw to Curry around midfield, and Curry was brought down after picking up 44 yards. Lawrence stalled out right after and turned the ball over on downs.

Mill Valley’s drive went into the fourth quarter, and Piva scored another rushing touchdown to put the Jaguars up 35-14 with under nine minutes left in the game.

Lawrence got a boost to start its next drive with a defensive holding on a throw to Becker. The Lions got another on a third-down play that included a late hit on Dooley. A few incompletions led to a turnover on downs, however, as Lawrence missed on a fourth-and-5 from the Mill Valley 35-yard line.

Mill Valley scored on Piva’s third rushing touchdown of the game with under 5 minutes left in regulation. Before Lawrence took the field after the kick return, Thoren called a timeout to settle down the team for the final minutes of the game.

Dooley picked up 25 yards on a scramble to start the drive and added 43 later to bring the Lions to the 1-yard line. Edwards picked up the final yard on the next play to make it a 42-21 game.

Mill Valley ran the ball down to the Lawrence red zone after Lawrence failed an onside kick, but the game clock ran out.

The Lions knew it would be a challenging game with a Mill Valley team that is among the best in the state. Thoren was proud of how the team continued to fight, even after a 21-0 deficit to start the game.

“We have tough kids, we’ve always had tough kids,” Thoren said. “We’re Lawrence. Lawrence always has tough kids. That’s what I expect from Lawrence kids. We have to play smarter, but we’re tough and we play hard, and that goes a long way in football.”

Lawrence will be back at home next Friday to host Shawnee Mission East at 7 p.m.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior running back Tahj Edwards points to the bench after scoring a touchdown against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore linebacker Mason McClure celebrates after recovering a fumble against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore linebacker Mason McClure celebrates after recovering a fumble against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley steps out of bounds after a carry against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High junior wide receiver Ethan Curry pushes the Mill Valley defense after a catch on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior wide receiver Jaxon Becker celebrates near the end zone after completing a drive against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior kicker Trevon Creager celebrates after the first punt against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior running back Tahj Edwards runs a route against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore quarterback Joey Dooley rushes into the end zone for the Lions’ second touchdown against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior kicker Trevon Creager prepares to kick an extra point against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior wide receiver Jaxon Becker celebrates near the end zone after completing a drive against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.