A battle of the top two teams in the Kansas City metro rankings lived up to the billing - until one of the Metro’s top players put the game away.
Lee’s Summit North, ranked No. 1 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, topped No. 2 Mill Valley, 26-13, in Shawnee. The Broncos held a 19-13 lead going into the fourth quarter, but senior star received Isaiah Mozee jetted and tiptoed down the sideline for a 23-yard reception to set up a game-sealing touchdown reception two plays later. Mozee took a pass in the flat, found a seam on the right side and streaked down the hash for a 20-yard score and a 26-13 lead with 11:52 left.
Mozee, a commit to Nebraska, finished with nine receptions for 106 yards and a score in the game.
Mill Valley, the five-time defending Kansas Class 5A state champions, mounted a drive inside the 10 with under 6:30 to go, but came up short on fourth down at the North 6.
Lee’s Summit North (3-0) built an early 17-0 lead after senior running back Quade Chatmon rushed for a 51-yard scamper to set up a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then scored on an 8-yard tote with 10:25 in the second period for a 14-0 edge. A North field goal pushed the lead to 17-0, and an apparent runaway.
But Mill Valley got its ground game going, then senior quarterback Connor Bohon hit Blake Jay for a 25-yard touchdown reception and a 17-7 halftime deficit. Junior tailback Reggie Reece, who eclipsed 100 yards on the ground, jetted for a 24-yard run early in the third to set up an 11-yard touchdown strike in the back left of the end zone from Bohon to Isaac Sauder with 9:33 left in the third for a 17-13 margin.
After holding the Broncos, the Jaguars ended up having to punt, but a bad snap resulted in a safety and a 19-13 lead with :32 left in the third.
Lee’s Summit North will play host to Arkansas power Bentonville next Friday, while Mill Valley entertains Free State.