By Ken Hansard 

Chanute High graduated a large number of seniors from last year’s football team.  However, they return a strong host of players – especially on offense – and senior quarterback Kris Harding II hopes to lead his charges to a deep run in the playoffs this season, “We’ve worked really hard this summer in the weight room and running 7 on 7’s.  Our team goal is obviously to push to make it to the state title game.”   

Harding, at 6’0 tall, has put on 12 pounds in the weight room this summer to raise his weight to 195 pounds, “I’m hoping the added strength and weight helps me take hits better. Other than that, I want to concentrate on staying hydrated and healthy.”   

Harding has set some lofty goals for his final season with the Blue Comets.  Besides competing for a state championship, Kris would love to make All-State and possibly cap off his career with a Shrine Bowl invite.  If his calculations are correct, he should have a lot of help from his teammates, “We have five big guys up front.  We also have a really quick running back as well as several solid options at the wide receiver spot that I can choose from.” 

The Blue Comets coaching staff and players have built a strong culture over the past couple seasons, which is something Harding takes great pride in, “Our coaches and my teammates have formed some really great bonds.  If one person slips up, we are all there to pick that player up and encourage him to go out and fix it the next chance he gets. There will never be a time that we try to bring someone down; we always pick them up.” 

That kind of fellowship is one of many reasons that Harding is contemplating the legacy he will leave behind, “I just want people to look up to me and see how great of a kid I am.  I want to encourage the young kids in our community to keep pushing for their dreams and never give up. It would also be nice to be remembered as one of the best quarterbacks in Chanute’s history, and it’s important for me to leave a winning mark on the program.”