Colorado Springs
Standing outside his house Monday night, Kenny Galbearth was startled by four birds rushing out from a nearby tree.
OK, he’ll admit it: He was scared – but only for a second.
But that flash of vulnerability is a reminder that the 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior with the calm voice and polite mannerisms is much different than the one you see playing for Mesa Ridge.
“Kenny on the field don’t get scared of nothing,” Galbearth says impassively.
That probably isn’t true for the players trying to tackle Kenny the running back or trying to avoid Kenny the linebacker. Either way, it’s Kenny the wrecking ball – a self-proclaimed joker who is a bundle of speed, strength and size.
“He plays running back with a linebacker’s attitude,” first-year Grizzlies coach Rob Braaten said. “That’s why he’s a good running back.”
But it wasn’t always that way. When Galbearth was in sixth grade, he tried to slash and juke defenders like Barry Sanders. Unimpressed, his coaches stuck him on the offensive line. But he got one more chance in the backfield and found a new style: run north and south and knock opponents to the east and west.
“I just tried to run over everybody,” he recalled. “That’s what I love to do.”
Galbearth ran for nearly 1,500 yards last season and registered 112 tackles. His sophomore totals were 1,200 yards rushing and more than 100 tackles. In Mesa Ridge’s 32-22 victory Friday over Mitchell, Galbearth ran for 146 yards, scored on a 37-yard draw play, had a 32-yard score wiped out by a holding call, and scored a two-point conversion with the grace of a bulldozer.
Colorado State has been in constant touch of late and Colorado coach Dan Hawkins came down to meet Galbearth in the offseason. Lots of mail comes his way from places like Michigan State, Iowa State, Illinois, California and Washington State.
Athletically speaking, Mesa Ridge hasn’t put itself on the map since opening in 1997 on the southern end of town. On the football field, the Grizzlies have never had a winning season and have won a total of four games in their past two seasons.
Opposing coaches in the Class 4A Foothills League say practically the same things about the Grizzlies. They have lots of talent, tons of potential and a lack of discipline and tradition.
So the Grizzlies got a fresh start by hiring Braaten, formally at Yuma. Braaten is all about discipline, accountability and trying to remold a mentality accustomed to succumbing to Murphy’s Law.
And the Grizzlies have embraced the new strictness.
“I actually like it,” Galbearth said. “I’ve been wanting that. It’s actually hard, but it’s going to make us better.”
But just ask Galbearth about his summer and the blushes start blooming. By his candid count, he spent maybe a week in the weight room. In fact, he has never hit the weights hard in his life, which is surprising when you see his physique and scary when you consider his potential.
Galbearth is learning the finer points to his positions, like reading blockers and making cuts or making sure his first step as a linebacker is toward the line of scrimmage rather than away.
If Mesa Ridge is going to put an end to years of disappointment and wants to have any chance Friday against No. 4 Pueblo South, it won’t be solely because of Galbearth. Quarterback Marcel Gibbons threw for four touchdowns against Mitchell, two to Joe Grimaldo. Thomas Vallejo is a tough fullback, and Xavier Green is a threat catching and running the ball.
“I’m a trash talker. I’m not going to lie,” Galbearth said. “My coach hates it. Coach will take me out of the game if he hears it. I’m trying.”
But the “harmless” chatter is all a part of on-the-field Kenny. The kid that runs over safeties and can weave through the secondary in a gear few can match.
Just don’t confuse that with the Kenny you see after a game.
“This Kenny and game Kenny are totally opposite people,” he said. “I can laugh and joke now, but on the field, it’s all business. I’m aggressive and intense. I have no friends on the field.”
