COLBY, Kan. — It’s game week in Colby… At least that’s how Head Coach Rees McKinney is treating it. The Eagles will play host to three schools Friday night at Dennen Field for a series of scrimmages to gear up for the 2019 campaign. Ellis, Norton, and league rival Goodland will make their way to town for the Jamboree at 7 p.m.
Coach McKinney spoke after practice Wednesday night, saying the team was using this week as a mock game week to prepare for week one against Ulysses.
Last season, the Eagles opened 6-0, their best start since 1990. Colby also notched their first win over Holcomb in nearly a decade during that stretch. The 8-2 campaign in 2018 came to an end to eventual state runner-up Pratt in the second round on the 3A playoffs.
Much of the Eagles offensive success in 2018 came off the workload of Jordan Schippers, now at Western Illinois. Colby will have to find a viable replacement for Schippers’ 1,336 total yards of offense and 23 total touchdowns from a season ago, and Calvin Stapp may be exactly that. Stapp, an All-League honoree in all three phases last season, rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns in his junior year.
Coach McKinney said even though he knows his team has a lot to replace, he has a ton of guys ready to step in to larger roles this season.
Another significant role for Colby with be that of Aaron Kurth, who was recently moved to left tackle, has garnered some division I attention already. His 6-7, 285 pound frame has drawn offers from South Dakota and Western Illinois in the FCS, as well as the University of Kansas. With the move to tackle, expect to see interest in one of the state’s top prospects grow during his senior year.
The Eagles have several guys ready to step into starting roles, but McKinney’s confidence in the team stems off of the confidence he has in the depth of his younger players he can rely on as well.
Colby’s offense has been tweaked for this upcoming season, but will still show a familiar pistol look. McKinney spoke highly of the team and their grasp of the offensive concepts so early in the year.
Entering Rees McKinney’s third year as the Head Coach in Colby, he has been able to establish a culture of success. His 14-6 record in his first two years in town matches the win total in the five years prior to his arrival. Much of that success he credits to the mindset of the kids he coaches. McKinney preaches effort and physicality, and that’s exactly what he expects to see from his team this Friday in the jamboree.
Colby will look to build off of a 4-1 finish in GWAC play a year ago when they open the season with three-straight league foes, beginning with Ulysses on the road September 6th.
You can catch every Colby game on 100.3 The Ride this season, as well as updates and features right here on NWKSradio.com.
2019 Colby Football Schedule
Sep. 6 – @ Ulysses* (4A, 4-5 record in 2018) Colby def. Ulysses 43-20 last season
Sep. 13 – Hugoton* (3A, 4-5 record in 2018) Colby def. Hugoton 35-6 last season
Sep. 20 – @ Holcomb* (3A, 4-5 record in 2018) Colby def. Holcomb 38-34 last season
Sep. 27 – Beloit^ (3A, 6-4 record in 2018) Colby def. Beloit 39-14 last season
Oct. 4 – @ Concordia^ (3A, 3-6 record in 2018) Colby def. Concordia 49-8 last season
Oct. 11 – Russell^ (3A, 3-6 record in 2018) Colby def. Russell 44-0 last season
Oct. 18 – Scott City*^ (3A, 10-1 record in 2018) Scott City def. Colby 35-12 last season
Oct. 25 – @ Goodland*^ (3A, 1-8 record in 2018) Colby def. Goodland 61-10 last season
Nov. 1 – TBD (Determined by district finish)
* GWAC Opponent
^ District Opponent
featured image courtesy of Colby High School
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