Gallery • 21 Photos

By Hunter Ristau

As a Topeka West player puts his hand into senior Logan Talley’s face, Talley tries to catch the ball on Friday, Oct. 26. “[The touchdown] gave us momentum throughout the whole entire game,” Talley said

The Jaguars defeated the Topeka West Chargers 49-10 in the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 26. With the win, the Jaguars will move on to the regional round of the playoffs.

After a bad snap and an intentional grounding penalty by Topeka West, the Jaguars had the ball deep in Charger territory. On their first offensive play, senior quarterback Jordan Preston connected with senior wide receiver Logan Talley for a touchdown, which gave the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead.

The early score boosted the team’s confidence, according to Talley.

“It gave us momentum throughout the whole entire game,” Talley said. “Jordan trusted the o-line, trusted the play calling and we all just made plays.”

After the ensuing offensive drive, junior running back Tyler Green ran the ball in for a touchdown. A successful extra point by senior kicker Jack Matchette, the Jaguars had extended their lead to 14-0.

Early in the second quarter, the Jaguars gave up a field goal to the Chargers, cutting into the Jaguars’ lead 14-3.

Although the defense hoped to give up no points, senior defensive back Steven Colling believes the team was able to rally after giving up the field goal.

“We prepared all week for a shutout but unfortunately we did not get that,” Colling said. “We just kept playing. Bad things happen. We gave a field goal early but after that, we just came together and just played.”

Talley ran the ball 63 yards for a touchdown the next offensive drive. The following drive, Talley again ran the ball for a touchdown. The Jaguars had a 28-3 lead midway through the second quarter.

With seconds remaining in the first half, senior wide receiver Matty Wittenauer caught Preston’s pass in the end zone for a touchdown. Heading into halftime, the Jaguars led 35-3.

To start off the second half, Green had a 53-yard run to the one-yard line. Green was able to punch it in the next play, extending the Jaguars’ lead to 42-3.

With just over a minute remaining in the third quarter, senior running back Joe Ybarra ran the ball in for a touchdown.

Midway through the the fourth quarter, the Chargers scored a touchdown. The Jaguars led 49-6, which would be the final score.

The defense was motivated to prove their dominance over Topeka West, according to senior defensive back Eli Midyett.

“It was our job, being the better defense, to just step up to the occasion and show them we’re the better team,” Midyett said.

The Jaguars will play at home against the St. James Academy Thunder in the regional round of the playoffs on Friday, Nov. 2.

The win is encouraging for the team, because it gets them closer to their end goal, according to Midyett.

“Any type of win in the playoffs is motivation,” Midyett said. “No matter how you win, just moving on to the next round gets everyone motivated because it’s closer to the state championship.”