All season, Maize’s offense moved the ball at will, racking up yard after yard and score after score on their way to a 12-0 start.
But in the Class 5A championship game, the Eagles faced a different type of defense than what they had seen all season.
It was an athletic group from Mill Valley, with a defensive line that causes havoc in not only the run game, but the pass game as well.
Much like 2021, when Maize struggled to move the ball, the Eagles were unable to sustain consistent offense and fell to Mill Valley 28-14. This was Mill Valley’s fourth straight championship.
The Eagles were held to 276 total yards and blue-chip quarterback finished with just 124 passing yards.
“We knew exactly what they were going to do defensively,” Maize head coach Gary Guzman said. “They’re just a solid football team with a very strong defense and an exceptional defensive line.”
Throughout the first quarter, Maize went toe-to-toe with the Jaguars, as the score was tied 7-7. But two long touchdowns from Mill Valley on big plays swung the entire momentum away from the Eagles.
“We tied the game at seven a piece with 3:49 left in the half and then we gave up two
quick, long touchdown passes right before the half that put us down 21-7 at half,” Guzman said. “They also got the ball first at the start of the second half.”
Mill Valley pushed its lead to 28-7 early in the fourth quarter and Maize was left to dwell on the same result as last season.
Even though the season did not conclude the way Guzman and the Eagles had hoped, it was still an incredible two-year run that he will never forget.
“They were an amazing group on and off the field,” Guzman said. “I have coached for a long time and I would have to say that this group of seniors is overall the best group that I have had the privilege and honor to coach. In the last three years, we were 31-6 with two trips to the state championship game. Before last year, Maize had not played for a state championship. We also won a league championship this year, which is a first since 2003.”
