‘It’s no Different’ Fruita Monument Football eyes opportunity with move to 4A

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - The Fruita Monument Wildcats are entering the 2026 football season in a new classification, moving from 5A to 4A after two seasons competing against some of the premiere programs in Colorado.

The Wildcats made the postseason last year and said they are not looking to ease up on the momentum they built.

“It’s no different. You know, we played 5A last year. We’re in 4A this year. We’re still playing football. Doesn’t matter who we play, who we’re going up against. We work as a team. Doesn’t matter who’s going up against us, doesn’t matter who’s on our schedule, we work the same,” Tucker Gillilan said.

“Yeah, we’re excited for the year. We view every opponent the same. We never be like, oh, these guys are all this. These guys aren’t all this. We just go in there, head clear and ready to play football,” Nate Wilkinson said.

Fruita Monument has built its identity around a strong running game, ball control and a stout defense. This season, the Wildcats said they are working to expand the passing game while keeping what has worked.

“Overall, we’ve got a pretty solid unit on both sides of the ball,” Wilkinson said. “Last year we started throwing a whole bunch more, but I’m really excited for our receivers this year. We got a good core, good tight ends. We could have a pretty good receiving attack.”

“Probably the best I’ve seen it look in a few years,” Gillilan said. “Not just with our run game, which is always amazing, but now implementing more of our pass stuff, getting those pass plays in, working that stuff that not a lot of teams have seen from us.”

Despite the classification change, Fruita Monument’s return to 4A doesn’t open up with easy matchups. The Wildcats begin the season on the road against Vista Peak Prep on Aug. 29, followed by back-to-back rivalry games against crosstown opponents Grand Junction Central and Grand Junction.

“It’s just become a huge game because they’re our rivals,” Gillilan. “They’ve been our rivals for a long time. They don’t like us. We don’t like them. Nothing to it.”