Friday Night Lights Are Back: Pratt High Football Week 1 Preview with Coach Brent Hoelting
- Cody Eastes
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The wait is officially over. Fall is in the air, the Friday Night Lights are ready to flick on across Kansas, and Week 1 of high school football has arrived.
To kick off the 2026 season, I sat down with Pratt High School head football coach Brent Hoelting for the debut episode of this year's Coaches Show. From off-season gains in the weight room to breaking in a brand-new field—and facing an unfamiliar Week 1 opponent—here is everything you need to know heading into Friday’s opener at Zerger Field.
Passing the Torch: Off-Season Culture & Stepping Up
Replacing a record-setting, dominant senior class—names like Arley Morrell, Cresten Pore, Luke Gatlin, and Josiah Schmidt—is never easy. But as Coach Hoelting highlighted at [01:28], the standard at Pratt doesn't reset; it carries forward.
"When we hand in equipment at the end of the year... I tell the juniors, 'You're seniors now when it comes to football. It's your turn to lead.'"
That transition kicked off immediately in the summer weight room with senior-drafted competition teams. Participation hit impressive marks this summer:
Identity of the 2026 Greenbacks: Speed & Technique
While the Greenbacks might not carry the sheer physical size in the trenches that they’ve had in previous years, this roster brings serious quickness and skill to the table [03:34].
Coach Hoelting emphasized that the coaching staff honed in on core fundamentals all summer—pad level, hand placement, get-off speed, and precise footwork. With several juniors and seniors hungry for their chance after waiting in the wings, this squad brings high motor and energy to every snap.
Week 1 Matchup: Pratt vs. Circle
For the first time in program history, Pratt will face off against the Circle Thunderbirds [00:35].
Facing an unfamiliar team brings an added layer of intrigue: Circle arrives with a brand-new head coaching staff that relocated from out of state [16:41]. Without extensive film or familiar tendencies to lean on, Week 1 will come down to executing Greenback football, playing disciplined defense, and making swift sideline adjustments.
Fresh Look at Zerger Field & Throwback Threads
Fans packing the stadium on Friday night will immediately notice big upgrades:
The New Turf Debut: Zerger Field underwent a massive off-season transformation, sporting crisp new synthetic turf and an updated field layout [16:51].
Throwback Uniforms: Keep an eye on the sidelines. Coach Hoelting teased a special throwback color scheme for Friday night that pays homage to classic Greenback football history [17:17].
New Tradition: The Player of the Game Bobblehead
We're also rolling out an exciting postgame addition for our Eastes Media broadcast.
For our weekly Thimesch Electric Player of the Game, we wanted something tangible and memorable to hand out. Local student Kacin Strong stepped up with his 3D-printing skills to create a custom, hand-crafted mascot bobblehead [18:50]. One standout Greenback will take this unique trophy home after the final whistle Friday night!
Details & Kickoff
Matchup: Pratt Greenbacks vs. Circle Thunderbirds
Location: Zerger Field (Pratt, KS)
Kickoff: 7:30 PM (pushed back 30 minutes to accommodate late-summer heat) [19:18]
Listen Live: Tune into the play-by-play coverage on the radio and follow along with Eastes Media for postgame interviews and highlights.
Comments