KFBCA Top 11: Bravin Powell

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams in early December, including the All-Class Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Gardner Edgerton quarterback Bravin Powell's capsule below. For a look at the complete 2024 KFBCA All-State teams click here.

A three-year starter at quarterback for Gardner Edgerton, Bravin Powell leaves behind a legacy that includes back-to-back Class 6A state championships and three consecutive state title game appearances. Powell, a dual-threat quarterback, played his best in the biggest moments, finishing his high school career with a 14-1 playoff record.

Powell’s senior season was capped by leading Gardner Edgerton to a dramatic 36-33 victory over Manhattan in the 2024 6A state championship game. Despite suffering an apparent hand injury late in the fourth quarter, Powell carried the ball on the final five plays of the game, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run with just 10 seconds remaining to secure the win. Over the course of the season, he amassed 1,412 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns on 194 carries, while completing 37 of 75 passes for 917 yards and 16 touchdowns. His single-game highlights included a 208-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance against Blue Valley Northwest and a near-perfect passing display with 245 yards and four touchdowns against Olathe West.

Over his career, Powell recorded 2,850 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns on 456 carries, while passing for 2,466 yards and 32 touchdowns on 132 completions. His leadership and ability to rise to the occasion were praised by Gardner Edgerton head coach Jesse Owen.

“Bravin influences his teammates to be better," Owen said. "He is a very positive person. That positivity combined with his consistent work ethic inspires others around him to be at their best."

That leadership carries from the practice field to the playing field as well.

"His biggest strength on the field is his poise and confidence," Owen added. "As a three-year starter, he became extremely poised and confident and displayed that in some of the biggest moments in our most important games.”

As a sophomore, Powell stepped into the starting quarterback role midway through the season, sparking a turnaround for the Trailblazers. Taking over after back-to-back losses to Mill Valley and Olathe North, he led Gardner Edgerton to the playoffs and a berth in the 6A state championship game, where they fell just short in a double-overtime heartbreaker to Manhattan.

Powell’s resilience and determination were on full display during both of Gardner Edgerton’s state championship seasons.

In 2023, Powell led the Trailblazers to a 22-19 win over Derby in the state final, scoring the game-winning touchdown despite playing with a broken wrist suffered in Week 7 in the only loss of the season.

In November's title game win over Manhattan, he accounted for every Trailblazer touchdown, running for three scores and passing for two more.

“Bravin was at his best when it mattered the most,” Owen said. “When the game was on the line, or when our offense needed to respond in a critical situation in a game, Bravin made the plays that our team needed in those situations.”

Powell’s performances earned him 2024 Sports in Kansas 6A Offensive Player of the Year and All-Classes Offensive Player of the Year honors. He holds scholarship offers from Butler Community College, Hutchinson Community College, Garden City Community College, Lincoln University (DII), and Emporia State, with interest from additional programs, including Kansas State and Kansas, but remains undecided on where he'll take his talents in college.