THE MHS INDIANS CONQUER TOGETHER
In order to be winners, a team must come together in unity. The Montrose High School football team knows the importance of putting the team before their own personal glory. Big Red Country has more than just a football team, they have a brotherhood.
The Montrose High School football team is 6–0 heading into their next game at Denver South, Saturday, October 19th. Last season, the Indians carried the weight of home field advantage giving them a win over the Denver South Rebels 44–14. The Indians are playing their way to the top while simultaneously switching positions throughout the season due to skill level, injuries, and fill the spots of graduated seniors.
“We executed and pulled an upset against a team that should not have beaten us, and we are underestimated again this year and I can’t wait to prove them wrong,” said junior quarterback Keegan Goodwin. In the hopes of proving the inaccuracy of all the skepticism, the Indians dedicate so much of their energy into this team and truly do have what it takes on and off the field to dominate this season. However, without their fans, the Indians would not have the energy to accurately execute their game. When asked how to maintain the energy throughout the game, Goodwin said, “Honestly, a lot has to do with the sideline and the stadium. If [the crowd] is engaged and gets hyped with a hit or a tackle for a loss, it brings more motivation and energy to the field. The community fills the stands every game wearing their red, black, and white proudly cheering on their Montrose Indians.
Entering this stage of the season, injuries and unseen events come up that can cause chaos on a team; however, this team hurdles obstacles thrown their way. Senior Cole Simmons mentioned, “We had a lot of adversity with injuries this year…but thankfully our depth in our underclassmen is really good, So they stepped up big time.” The Indians are under enough pressure with how well their season is going and with the surprises of injuries in their players they are still able to get the job done.
Keeping the same momentum the team had last year into this season as well as moving some players to different positions they have never played before has been one of the biggest challenges this season according to Senior Elias Gabaldon. “We are 6–0 because we play as a team and we trust each other to do our job and get things done. We have overcome many things this season by having players with suspensions and having younger kids who didn’t know the positions that well.”
This team in particular is so successful because they have such a unique chemistry with each other on and off the field. “We all have each other’s backs and that to me is honestly how we have made it this far being 6–0. We aren’t worried about our individual stats or how many yards we got in a game. Instead we are out there having fun and building our brotherhood stronger and stronger every day.” said Senior Emmert Kastendieck about the atmosphere within this team. The Indians’ goal they are working towards is to not let what everyone says about them get in the way of what they want to accomplish and to them. “We may be a small team, but we are family and that is what keeps us going.”
Not many teams have the chemistry of these Montrose Indians. Senior Riley Barnhill said, “We play for each other and it’s very obvious. Not many players are willing to throw themselves into a 300 pound lineman so their teammates can make the tackle and that’s what our team does every play.” These athletes have truly demonstrated the way a team should be and that is united. The way they are unified on and off the field makes them who they are. Their greatness is attained through the trust in one another to go into each and every game and no matter the outcome they know that each and every one of them put their hearts on the line during every game. “We all just work so hard on and off the field that it sets us up for a good mindset to trust the work we’ve put in,” said Junior Colten Bruggeman. These athletes truly have faith in all they do and prove themselves in their game time performance.
It is so significant for these athletes to find the true value of what it means to be more than just a football team. These boys spend hours together for the love of the sport. Senior Kastendiek also mentioned the support they gain from their incredible coaching staff; “They care about us more than winning and that means a lot to us as players and as young men.” These boys have grown up together playing one game, and will come out of each season and into the world as brothers.
As of Saturday, this football team is still hot on a winning streak. Remaining undefeated, the Indians secured a 76–41 win against Denver South, on Saturday, improving their record to 7–0 in this season. Coming together as one and conquering on the field, the Montrose Indians have what it takes to accomplish greatness over the next games to come.
