Colts gear up with high expectations
By KELLEN TANIGUCHI on June 16, 2021.
ktaniguchi@medicinehatnews.com@@kellentaniguchi While the Hat High Hawks were back on the gridiron last week with full-contact camps, the joint McCoy High School and Eagle Butte team is shifting its focus to the fall. Colts head coach Darrell Grass says they’re getting everything in order for the fall, which includes visiting Grade 9s at the division’s theatre schools and the team’s quarterback and receivers’ coach, David Leahy, working with players individually. Grass says Leahy will have some skill work for quarterbacks, receivers, linebackers, running backs and also some footwork and basic movement drills for the lineman. The football team was able to run practices last season but didn’t get to play in any games. Grass says the coaching staff and players are ready to get back and compete. “Football is always exciting, and the kids are chomping at the bit. I said, ‘Keep hungry, we’re going to be going in mid-August. So, keep that hunger, show up ready to go and get ready to work hard’ … we’re quite optimistic about next year,” said Grass. The team is scheduled for its first exhibition game Aug. 27 against Strathmore. Grass says he had a meeting at each of the schools and numbers are looking good for the upcoming season. He’s optimistic the team can fill holes left by star veteran players who graduated. “We lost some really good players, but the cycle goes, there’s some kids that are coming up that are going to be good and the nice thing about high school football is that the way the kids grow and mature from year-to-year, somebody in Grade 10 may be a superstar when he comes out in Grade 12,” he said. While the Colts wait for the fall, Crescent Heights High School has planned virtual spring camp activities. 11-10
