Tough RB takes it to McGuffey again
Miller powers Antelopes past pesky Highlanders
There’s just something about the McGuffey game that brings the most out of Jax Miller.
Remember last season, when Miller posted a 200-plus-yard, six-touchdown performance in a 15-point loss to the Highlanders? Back then, it was pretty hard to believe the shifty back — now a senior — would be able to top a performance like that.
But then came Friday night, where two undefeated forces in Avonworth and McGuffey collided on the Lenzner Field turf in a marquee 2A matchup. Miller — with 957 rushing yards on the season — was 43 yards away from surpassing 1,000, while Avonworth still felt as if it hadn’t received the respect it deserved despite its 8-0 record.
By the game’s conclusion, Miller had earned his 1,000 mark, and Avonworth certainly earned some respect.
The No. 3-ranked Antelopes (9-0) stormed past No. 4 McGuffey (8-1), 34-20, as Miller rushed for 167 yards by halftime and 241 for the game with three touchdowns on 28 carries.
After finishing just short of the 1,000yard mark a year ago, Miller, with puffy eyes and tears streaming down his face, couldn’t help but unleash a wave of emotion — both for himself and his team.
“I came up short last year,” he said. “I was like 70 yards short, but it wasn’t even the stats-wise. I wanted to get to the playoffs. We lost to Freedom and I knew we could’ve beat them. I just feel like this is the year we need to do it.”
If the dominance the Antelopes displayed against McGuffey is any indication, then Miller’s assessment is right — this very well could be the season Avonworth makes another deep playoff run.
“It shows a lot for us because this was the challenge where we really wanted to see how good we are,” Miller said. “This really proved and sent a statement for us and the WPIAL. We’re always disrespected. So, the fact that we won this game against this big of a team. Both teams were undefeated, and we’re 9-0 and their 8-1, it just means a lot for all of us.”
Avonworth was missing two of its top receivers in Kyros Thorpe and Theo Newhouse, both of whom were out due to dislocated kneecaps suffered in Week 7. So, that put the onus on Miller to carry the load – primarily operating out of the Wildcat offense.
And he certainly delivered.
“I don’t want to call him Le’Veon Bell, but he’s Le’Veon Bell-like,” Mc Guffey coach Ed Dalton said. “He probes, probes, probes, and bursts. …That probing — we lost our discipline, he found his space, and we didn’t tackle very well. He’s a slider and you can’t dive at a slider. You’ve got to tackle him high and get some help. We didn’t do that.”
The Antelopes broke open the scoring on their second possession via Miller’s first touchdown of the game on a wildcat scamper from 19 yards. McGuffey was quick to answer, however, with an 18yard touchdown connection from Marshall Whipkey to Tyler Smith two minutes later. The game was physical and chippy with penalties called left and right as both sides traded blows. After all, the Antelopes and Highlanders were both unbeaten, and neither team wanted to go home on the losing end. But from that point on, Avonworth took over.
First came a 12-yard touchdown strike from Park Penrod to Jordan Rapp on fourth down that put them ahead, 14-6, at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter. And then came the Jax Miller show. After Miller’s strip-sack on Whipkey gave the Antelopes the ball from the McGuffey 19, Miller rushed in for a 12yard touchdown two plays later. He sacked Whipkey again on the first play of McGuffey’s ensuing possession and later stopped the Highlanders quarterback inches before the chains on a fourth-and-6 rush that prevented a first down.
The Antelopes took over on downs and drove 70-plus yards, thanks in large part to a 59-yard rush by Ian Syam before Miller’s third touchdown of the game nearly came on a first-down rush from the 5. But instead, he dished an assist — except we’re not talking about basketball. On a direct snap, Miller fumbled the ball into the end zone — his lone mistake of the night — that was recovered by senior offensive lineman Adam McKinney for a prized big-man touchdown that gave Avonworth a 27-6 advantage heading into halftime. Miller rushed for a 3-yard touchdown on Avonworth’s first drive of the second half to put his finishing touches on a Le’Veon Bell-like night to remember.
“Absolutely,” said Avonworth coach Duke John cour, when asked about the validity of the Bell comparisons. “When he sees a hole, he doesn’t have extreme breakaway speed but he wants to lower his shoulder and run over you to finish a run.”
But even for all of the offensive production from Miller and company, Avonworth’s defense was just as physically imposing. The Highlanders were held to six points in the first half, well below their season average, and finished 1 for 11 on third down attempts.
“They had negative-3 yards rushing in the first half,” John cour said. “That’s enough said right there . ... Our defense rose to the occasion.”
McGuffey scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns on rushes by Nathan Yagle and Jeremiah Johnson, albeit the 2- and 41-yard scores were just a little too late. Avonworth finished with 413 yards of total offense – including 322 on the ground — and 23 first downs. Trevor Faulkner caught two passes for 63 yards, and Syam rushed five times for 81 yards. Park Penrod ended 5 for 11 for 91 yards.