In a battle of defending state champions, Blue Valley Northwest showed why they aren't to be forgotten for the Class 6A title again. 

And Grant Stubblefield showed why he shouldn't be left out for Player of the Year consideration either.

The Huskies - the defending Kansas Class 6A state champs and No. 5 in the 810 Varsity Top 25 - surged after halftime and topped St. James Academy, 35-21, on Friday night.

Stubblefield, the senior running back for BV Northwest, racked up a whopping 283 yards and two rushing touchdowns in the contest. The senior also snagged a touchdown pass, one of three from senior Connor White, making his first varsity start. White finished with 13-of-21 passing for 169 yards.

Blue Valley Northwest (1-0) opened up looking to blow it open as touchdown drives capped by a Stubblefield 11-yard run and a 16-yard touchdown reception from White to Gavin Hoffman gave the Huskies a 14-0 lead after the first stanza.

But St James - the two-tie defending Class 4A state champ - came back as an Ayden Brady two-yard TD scamper got the Thunder on the board. Then quarterback Blake Boydston hit all-state receiver John Niesen for a 16-yard strike, to tie the game.

However, Blue Valley Northwest kept on the throttle, despite four turnovers in the contest. Stubblefield's TD reception put the Huskies up 20-14, then the senior stiffarmed a couple of Thunder players en route to a 14-yard touchdown run, and a margin of 28-14.

Hoffman, who finished the scoring with a 41-yard touchdown reception, finished with 79 yards on four receptions.

Boydston concluded with 176 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Niesen snagged 10 balls for 100 yards.

BV Northwest
Passing: Connor White 13-of-21, 169 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: Grant Stubblefield 39-283, 2 TDs
Receiving: Gavin Hoffman 4-79, 2 TDs; Trevor Garlington 1-37, Jashon WHite 3-25, Stubblefiled 1-4, TD

St. James
Passing: Blake Boydston 17-of-28, 176 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Boydston 12-38; Ayden Brady 9-8, TD
Receiving: John Niesen 10-100, TD; Callahan Huston 2-34, TD; Finn Burritt 3-25