Mill Valley football coach Joel Applebee knows better than to scream into the storm. When his postgame speech was interrupted after a few seconds by the student body ready to celebrate the Jaguars’ 45-28 Class 5A state semifinal victory over St. Thomas Aquinas, Applebee just grinned.

“Go get ’em,” he told his team just moments before he was swallowed by the throng of onrushing students.

Mill Valley, 11-1, got to the first state title game in school history by defeating Aquinas, 9-3, for the second time this season.

After years of playoff disappointments, the Jaguars will finally get the opportunity to play for a state title next week on Pittsburg State’s campus.

“We just believe every week, no matter who we’re playing,” Mill Valley quarterback Logan Koch said. “We played a tough schedule this year, and it showed. Last year was a tough year. It wasn’t what we wanted. We worked hard in the offseason and we came this year to compete every down.”

Mill Valley has weapons galore on offense, and Aquinas had no answer for Koch and senior Christian Jegen.

Koch threw for 302 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed for 56 yards and a score.

Jegen was a dynamo, whether he lined up at running back or receiver. He ran 16 times for 115 yards and a touchdown. He caught a game-high seven passes for 171 yards and two more TDs.