West Grand football coach Chris Brown. (Photo courtesy of Mike Wilson)
Playing with heavy hearts following the death of a teammate earlier in the week, West Grand football gave coach Chris Brown career win No. 306 on Friday. That mark ties the state’s career record.
West Grand, an 8-man program in Kremmling, beat No. 7 Vail Christian 34-8 on Friday. The win came after Mustangs quarterback JD Guess was killed in a car accident while driving home from practice on Tuesday night, and the community is dealing with the tragic loss.
“The win tonight had little to do with me,” Brown wrote in an email on early Saturday morning. “First, credit goes to Eric Guess [JD’s father] and Will [his brother, and a former player at West Grand], our amazing assistant coaches, an unbelievable crowd, and a tremendous effort from our kids.
“This will always be the greatest win in my career. I never thought I’d say this, and no disrespect to all my former teams or players, especially the 1976 ‘Comeback Kids’ from Limon, but this is my new all-time favorite team. It has been the worst few days of my life.”
Guess, a junior, was well known in the community and was the team’s starting quarterback. A memorial service is set for Nov. 2, and school is canceled that day so the community can attend. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to West Grand High School.
The team was contemplating not playing the game this week, but ultimately decided it needed to.
“I’ve coached in seven state championship games, and to me, this is a more important game to play, to give your effort, than any of those others,” Brown told 7 News before the game.
Brown ties the career mark held by former Denver East and Bishop Machebeuf coach Pat Panek, who was active from 1939-77. The win also moves Brown narrowly past former Dove Creek/Dolores County coach Ken Soper, who had 305 wins from 1965-2011.
“Knowing Coach Panek (my first game/loss),” Brown said, “I know he was leaning our way tonight.”
Brown is now 306-122 in his career. He started coaching in 1976 at Limon, where he won two state championship, and has been at West Grand since 1980.
Brown won his 300th career game on Sept. 11 against Nederland, becoming just the third coach to hit that mark. Later in the season, Kent Denver coach Scott Yates also won his 300th game.