A dramatic finish to Thursday night’s high school football game between Olathe West and undefeated Mill Valley has sparked controversy after officials ruled that an Owls running back was stopped short of the goal line on the final play, denying Olathe West a chance to tie or potentially win the game.

The disputed call sealed a 21-14 victory for Mill Valley on Oct. 15, but video of the play circulating online has left football fans questioning whether officials got it right.

The controversy has now attracted national attention, with sports website BroBible publishing an article Friday examining the disputed finish.

A GAME THAT CAME DOWN TO INCHES

Olathe West appeared poised to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the Kansas high school football season.

The Owls led Mill Valley by seven points with 8:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars rallied to tie the game with 3:48 left, then took a 21-14 lead with just 1:38 remaining.

That left Olathe West approximately 90 seconds to drive down the field and attempt to tie the game or potentially win with a two-point conversion.

The Owls responded with a drive that brought them to the Mill Valley goal line in the closing seconds.

With the clock winding down, Olathe West handed the ball to senior running back Cash Warren, who charged straight ahead behind his offensive line into a wall of Mill Valley defenders.

Players from both teams converged at the goal line as Warren attempted to push his way into the end zone.

When the pile was untangled, officials ruled Warren had been stopped short.

The clock expired, and Mill Valley escaped with a seven-point victory.

VIDEO RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CALL

Video from the game’s broadcast has since circulated on social media, with viewers debating whether Warren and the football crossed the goal line before he was brought down.

Some believe the footage shows Warren reaching the end zone, while others argue that the angle makes it impossible to determine the ball’s exact position.

Under football rules, the ball must break the plane of the goal line while in the runner’s possession for a touchdown to count. The position of the runner’s body alone does not determine whether a touchdown has been scored.

The officials ruled Warren short, and that decision stands as the official result.

Had Olathe West been awarded the touchdown, the Owls would have had an opportunity to tie the game with an extra point or attempt a two-point conversion for the victory.

Instead, Mill Valley remained undefeated.

A TOUGH ENDING FOR AN OLATHE WEST STANDOUT

The finish was particularly dramatic for Warren, who had played a major role in Olathe West’s recent success.

Just days earlier, Warren helped preserve an overtime victory against Shawnee Mission Northwest with a game-winning defensive stop at the goal line.

Against Mill Valley, Warren found himself on the opposite side of a nearly identical situation, this time carrying the football with the game on the line.

Warren finished Thursday’s contest with 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.

Olathe West quarterback Andre Day threw for 185 yards, while receiver Caleb Swan contributed 91 receiving yards.

NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR A LOCAL RIVALRY

The controversial ending has drawn attention beyond the Kansas City area.

BroBible, a national sports and entertainment website, featured the game Friday, highlighting the disputed goal-line stand and asking readers whether the officials made the correct decision.

The loss snapped Olathe West’s three-game winning streak and dropped the Owls to 4-3 on the season.

Mill Valley improved to 7-0, maintaining its undefeated record and position among Kansas’ top-ranked high school football teams.

Despite the disappointing finish, Olathe West demonstrated it could compete with one of the state’s strongest programs, taking the Jaguars to the final seconds.

The Owls are scheduled to face Shawnee Mission East on Thursday, Oct. 22, while Mill Valley will play Olathe East on Friday, Oct. 23.

For Olathe West players and fans, however, Thursday’s final play may remain a subject of debate long after the season ends.

Watch the controversial final play and decide for yourself: Did Olathe West score a touchdown, or did Mill Valley make the game-winning stop?