Brett Gilbreth takes over Routt Catholic football, eyes faster offense

Brett Gilbreth had Routt Catholic back in the weight room and doing agility work as he took over the Rockets’ football program, and he said the aim was to make the 2026 season look and feel different after a 1-8 finish. Gilbreth said the group was having fun while preparing, but the bigger test in Jacksonville is whether that energy turns into wins for a team trying to reset quickly.

Gilbreth’s first task is not a full reboot. He said his year as an assistant gave him a close look at what made the program work under Barry Creviston, whose 71 victories remain the most by any Routt football coach. That background gives Gilbreth a clear reference point as he decides what to keep from the old structure and where to make his own mark with a roster that needs steadiness as much as it needs change.

The clearest change is on offense. Gilbreth said the Rockets have speed, athleticism and strength, and he wants the system to match those traits instead of forcing a bigger, power-based style that does not fit the personnel. The result, he said, should be a faster, more run-oriented attack, one that gives Routt a better chance to play to its strengths every Friday night and avoid asking players to carry a scheme that does not suit them.

Routt’s rebuild still has a few proven pieces. Wide receiver Nolan Mossman returns after leading the team with 416 receiving yards, and linebacker Anson Butcher comes back after posting a team-high 101 tackles. Gilbreth also pointed to several younger players as part of the program’s future core, a sign that the Rockets will lean on both returning production and early development as they try to climb out of a difficult year.

The move to make Freesen Field the permanent home of the Rockets added another layer of stability to the transition. For a program that has had to look ahead carefully, the permanent field and a new coach arriving with a player-first approach gave Routt a more settled base heading into the fall. The question now is whether that foundation can produce a faster offense, a tighter roster and a better record for Morgan County’s Rockets this season.