Huskies season ends in 24-7 loss to Tigers
The varsity football team was defeated by Blue Valley, 24-7. The Huskies end their season, 5-2.
Junior Mikey Pauley attempts to avoid a tackle.
November 7, 2020
Coming into the game, the Huskies had just won their first playoff game in 11 years against Shawnee Mission East. The momentum would soon carry over as junior quarterback Mikey Pauley would find junior Max Muehlberger for a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Unfortunately for the Huskies, the touchdown would be their last score of the game, resulting in a 24-7 loss to the Tigers. Pauley said the Tigers defensive line did a good job of shutting down the run.
“They had a great push on their d-line which kind of screwed up our run game and limited us to passing and once they drop back it’s kind of tough to do that, but we couldn’t get our run game going quite as well as we wanted,” Pauley said.
Head coach Clint Rider attributed the loss to being unable to score.
“I think not being able to put points on the board really hurt us and we just weren’t able to get those things going,” Rider said. “[The defense] put us in a position to win, they played good.”
Playing in his last game for the Huskies, senior defensive end Leo Clennan said he was very emotional after the game.
“I’ve given four years to the program and it’s my last game. It’s just tough on me and the rest of the seniors. Our season got cut pretty short so it was pretty emotional for me,” Clennan said.
Finishing as the most successful Northwest football team in 11 yea
rs, Pauley said he is happy they were able to achieve their goal.
“It’s awesome, that’s what was planned this summer, we wanted it and we were hungry for it so it’s awesome to see,” Pauley said.
Coming into the season after finishing 2-7, Rider said he didn’t know what to anticipate from his team.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming in, but our guys were ready to play,” Rider said. “Going 5-2 and changing the trajectory of the program, they definitely proved they can play with anybody and they’ll be back.”
With a majority of the starters returning to the team next season, Pauley said he is confident they will do well.
“We’re going to win state next year,” Pauley said.
