KFBCA Top 11: Mikey Pauley

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams December 5th and 6th, including their Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Blue Valley Northwest quarterback Mikey Pauley's capsule below and check back for more capsules throughout the week.

Mikey Pauley, QB, 6-4, 200, Blue Valley Northwest

Blue Valley Northwest quarterback Mikey Pauley was key in the rapid ascent of the Huskies over the last four seasons, culminating with its highest point in program history when it won the school’s first ever 6A state title in dominant fashion, beating a Derby team in the midst of a historic run of success, 41-21, at the end of November.

“Winning the state championship was very rewarding,” Pauley said. “It showed how much work the players and coaches put in during the offseason, going from 0-9 as a freshman to winning the state title. It also made it special that we were the first football state champions in school history.

As a frosh in 2018, Pauley saw spot duty during Northwest’s 0-9 season, the second in head coach Clint Rider’s tenure.

When Pauley took over starting duties full-time as a sophomore, the potential was obvious, but still yet to truly flourish. The dual-threat QB ran for 532 yards and seven touchdowns, and threw a whopping 295 passes for 1,861 yards and 15 touchdowns, but had an underwhelming completion percentage of .495 with 20 interceptions as well, while the Huskies improved to 2-7.

As a junior, the signal caller said goodbye to his growing pains. In seven games, Pauley threw for 1,369 yards on  92of 157 passing (.586) for 16 TDs and seven interceptions, to go along with 571 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

Northwest finished the 2020 season 5-2 after having weeks one and two canceled due to COVID. The Huskies returned a group that appeared to have the potential for big things in 2021, and Pauley helped make sure that was a reality.

“His junior year is when you really started to see the maturation at the quarterback position, the number of turnovers dropped almost in half,” Rider said. “His ability to make checks on the field increased and his overall understanding of how to run an offense. Then I think his senior year you saw the culmination of decision making, again I think he had six interceptions and four of those were in the first three or four weeks and I think he fumbled only once or twice all year. So I think that was taking care of the football, understanding situations of what play would be best, what throw to make. His junior year he still had the tendency to try and make the ‘wow’ throw, but by his senior year he understood that he didn’t have to win games by himself, he could become a little bit more of a distributor, maybe check into a play when he’s not the primary ball carrier.”

During his senior campaign, Pauley wracked opposing secondaries for 1,945 yards on 132 of 194 passing (.68), for 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions, complemented by 1,214 yards rushing for 22 touchdowns.

Northwest’s multifaceted attack proved nearly impossible to stop, boasting a talented line and receiving corps, as well as backfield mate Grant Stubblefield, a junior who added 1,584 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. The Huskies scored 35 points or more in all but two games.

“Our offense was so dangerous because of how balanced we were,” Pauley said. “We had weapons all over the field, the line did a great job, and from there I could count on any of my receivers to make a big play, or hand it off to Grant and rely on him to get some yards.”

At season’s end, Pauley took home a number of awards and honors, including the Simone Award, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in the Kansas City metro.

With a storied high school football career behind him, Pauley is already committed to playing baseball at the University of Nebraska next season, but has received confirmation from both the football and baseball staff that he has the greenlight to play both sports for the Cornhuskers, and is strongly considering the option.

While Pauley was likely the most decorated member of an exceptional group of seniors for the Huskies, Rider said the loaded group that delivered his first state title in his third stop as a head coach will all be missed.

“There were certainly guys who came before them that changed the culture in the weight room, but I think these guys have changed the culture on the field and the expectations of winning. It’s something that as a coach you look back and can probably think of certain classes of groups of guys that you feel really connected to and it will be that way forever, this group is probably one of the top classes I’ve ever been connected to and will certainly miss those guys once they’re gone.”

The KFBCA Top 11 and All-State selections consist of seniors from the Class of 2022 nominated and voted on by members of the Kansas Football Coaches Association. For more info about the KFBCA find them online at www.kfbca.com.