A clash of defending state champions lived up to the billing.

Mill Valley, the five-time defending Kansas Class 5A state champions, outlasted the Kansas Class 6A defending champs, Gardner-Edgerton, 41-35, at Gardner on Friday night.

After a back-and-forth game, the Trailblazers went for a fourth-and-9 near midfield with just over a minute to go. G-E quarterback Bralin Powell stepped back to pass, but Mill Valley’s Garret Clark hit Powell in the pocket to force a fumble.

Mill Valley took over with 55 seconds at its own 49, before a pass interference call moved the Jaguars to the GE 36. Following an incomplete pass, senior quarterback Connor Bohon hit tight end Elliott Fischer between two defenders at the 13, who eventually came down at the 7 with :33 left. On the next play, junior tailback Reggie Reece darted to the left for a wide open touchdown and a 41-35 lead with 22 seconds left.

The Trailblazers (5-1) did get to midfield but a pass on the final play fell incomplete.

Reece finished with just under 200 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns, including a 70-yard run with 8:07 left in the third to tie the game at 21-21.

Bohon finished with two rushing scores, as well as a 60-yard touchdown to Blake Jay for a 14-7 lead with 1:42 left in the first half.  But Powell connected on a deep pass down the middle to Tim Chartier for 58 yards to eventually set up a Syre Padilla four-yard touchdown and a 14-14 tie at intermission. The game was tied five times until the final Mill Valley score.

Mill Valley will play at Shawnee Mission West next Friday, while Gardner-Edgerton travels to face Olathe Northwest.