Kytan Fyfe isn’t interested in going 4-5 again. 

While being an important and dynamic piece to the defense at safety where he ranked second on the team in tackles with 64, Fyfe spent half the season on offense playing a mix of running back and receiver as a junior in 2020. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete rushed for 295 yards (and a team-high 5.1 yards per touch) and four touchdowns but also caught 15 passes for 128 yards.

It wasn’t until the Omaha Westside game where more responsibility was put on Fyfe’s shoulders. Senior starting quarterback Jaden Jurgensmier went down with a season-ending injury against the Warriors, so Fyfe took over under center. Or, in Grand Island’s spread offense, the gun.

“I took over that leadership role the best I could and tried to get better,” Fyfe said.

With Fyfe at quarterback, Grand Island finished the COVID-impacted regular season 2-1, then beat Lincoln Pius X 36-0 in the first round of the Class A playoffs. The season came to an end in a second-round rematch against Westside. 

Now Fyfe has an entire offseason to prepare for being the starting quarterback at Grand Island. Like most high school quarterbacks, the areas he said he wants to work on are accuracy and arm strength. Last season he completed 55 percent of his passes (54 of 98) for 749 yards and six touchdowns against four interceptions.

Along with returning leading receiver Brandon Fox, who hauled in 23 catches for 410 yards and five scores last season, Fyfe will have a big target to throw to in the 6-5 senior-to-be Dylan Sextro. Those two even connected on a go route last Tuesday during a scrimmage against Grand Island Northwest at Northwest’s jamboree. Here’s the play:

“It was one-on-one coverage, and it was kind of like basketball because he’s our post player and I’m the point guard, so I just lobbed it up to him,” Fyfe said. “It felt the same, just throwing it up to him and letting him make a play.”

Fyfe has been playing with Sextro since middle school and feels comfortable throwing to him.

“He’s come a long way and he’s getting really good,” Fyfe said.

While Fyfe is a talented athlete with the ball in his hands, some are projecting him to play defense at the next level. He flashed his athleticism on that side of the ball last season with a 70-yard pick-six against Papillion-La Vista South. 

Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota State and Missouri Western State University have all been in contact with him. He recently had unofficial visits at Nebraska and Wyoming.

Had a great time at Nebraska. Thank you @BarrettRuud @coach_frost for the opportunity! @SeanDillonNU pic.twitter.com/eqfWCyBtSZ

— Kytan Fyfe (@kyfyfe2) June 7, 2021

Had a fun time visiting Wyoming! Thank you @CoachABohl for the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/9zqXws6c8z

— Kytan Fyfe (@kyfyfe2) June 4, 2021

“They’ve been talking to me about playing that athlete role, kind of like a linebacker and safety,” Fyfe said. “I like it, I like defense a lot. Wherever I can play, I’ll play. We have a great coach in Coach (Jeff) Tomlin, he’s taught me everything I know about defense. A lot of the credit goes to him, I just do what he says.”

Fyfe said he doesn’t have personal goals, he’s just focusing on helping the team this year. And, yeah, he and his teammates don’t want to go 4-5 again.

“All of us seniors, we’re trying to be the best leaders we can be for our team and have a successful season,” he said.