Building from the ground up in 2017 and now considered a perennial Kansas Class 6A contender, Blue Valley Northwest enters year eight of the Clint Rider era.

Going 6-5 in 2023, the Huskies have a chance to etch their fifth-straight winning season this fall, proving those low points filled with 0-9 and 2-7 seasons were well worth it. Northwest came up just one game shy of notching its first trip back to the state tournament since winning it all in 2021, falling 28-6 to eventual champion Gardner-Edgerton in last season’s sectional final. If successful this year, it would be the program’s first stretch of five seasons above .500 since the 1990s.

With a 2021 6A state title sitting in the trophy case and holding a 33-35 record as Northwest’s head honcho, Rider has 11 returning starters to work with this fall. There are currently 10 seniors in Rider’s projected starting lineups, all of whom were freshmen when the team first reached the mountaintop three seasons ago. Now, with a taste for gold, the Huskies are licking their chops to once again compete for the spot on the state’s summit.

“This team has high aspirations,” said Rider, who owns a 76-55 career record as a head coach. “What we do between now and November will determine what kind of season we will have. We need to do a better job responding to adversity this fall. In the games we lost last season, we did not play our best when we needed it the most. This team has great leadership that holds high standards for themselves.”

While the quarterback position remains a question mark for now, seven starters are back for the offense, as the backfield will feature split carries between junior running backs LJ Bowens (5-foot-9, 155) and Logan Waldorf (5-foot-10, 160). These two Huskies look to mush towards last season’s stellar team numbers of 195.5 rushing yards per game and 22 touchdowns.

Pulling that sled are five veteran offensive linemen, with three boasting all-state or All-Eastern Kansas League honors. First team all-state and All-EKL guard Brock Heath (6-foot-4, 265) is back for his senior season, as is second-team all-state and All-EKL tackle Andrew Babalola (6-foot-7, 300). Senior Traven Niehues (6-foot-2, 275) reassumes command at center after tallying an All-EKL Honorable Mention last season. Also returning to action are junior guard Kaleb Peterson (6-foot-3, 230) and senior tackle Carson Wells (6-foot-5, 225).

“Offensively, we return all five starters on the offensive line, and they are a great unit that plays well together,” Rider said. “The identity of our offense this fall starts with them.”

Providing firepower from the outside are four wide receivers operating in a spread offense that averaged 27.6 points per game last season. Leading the pack is senior Trevor Garlington, a 6-foot-2, 165-pound All-EKL Second-Team selection who hauled in 57 passes for 670 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. Going up for grabs with him is junior Ayden McGibboney (6-foot-3, 180), who returns 17 receptions for 179 yards and five touchdowns’ worth of experience.

Ready to build off a season that saw him reel in three balls for 25 yards is junior receiver Logan Chandler (5-foot-10, 160). Meanwhile, Baron Marshall (6-foot-1, 175) looks to make a name for himself in his freshman season.

On defense, Rider has built a flexible 4-3 base defense that is ready to run multiple formations. This unit has five returners, with Heath and Peterson pulling double duty and playing at defensive end and tackle, 

respectively. Opposite of Heath is fellow senior end Micah Handke (6-foot-2, 260), and next to him is junior tackle and starting lineup newcomer Miguel Torreabla (6-foot-4, 245).

Senior Sawyer Williamson (5-foot-10, 185) and junior Beckett Linden (5-foot-11, 190) are back to lead the linebacking corps, taking junior Charlie McBride (5-foot-11, 175) under their wing and into their battalion. The defense’s perimeter has plenty of experience leading the way, with seniors Joseph Arnold (6-foot-2, 175) and Luke Wolverton (5-foot-11, 180) saddling up for one last ride on the outside.

The last line of defense features some fresh faces, with junior strong safety Andrew Wolverton (6-foot-1, 180) and junior free safety Max Moser (5-foot-11, 170) starting in the secondary.

“On the defensive side, we replace a number of starters on the defensive line and elsewhere on the defense,” Rider said. “Many of the players stepping into these roles had opportunities to start and play full games due to injury last fall. We have a few faces who did not play much varsity defense last year that will be major contributors on the D-line this fall, and we are expecting big things from them.”

On special teams, once again kicking and punting for the Huskies is junior Trace Rudd (5-foot-11, 175).

Northwest kicks off the 2024 season on Sept. 6 at home vs. Blue Valley North. As of late, the Huskies have earned their pound of flesh vs. their top rival, beating the Mustangs in three straight meetings and improving Rider’s record vs. North to 4-3.

“Overall, I love the work ethic and makeup of this squad,” Rider said. “They are always willing to do what it takes to get better and have had great focus this offseason. I’m excited to coach them.”