KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Koltin Hevalow was only thinking one thing when he climbed aboard Big Mac on Friday night inside the T-Mobile Center.
“Don’t let my teammates down,” Hevalow told himself.
The three-time Missouri High School Rodeo Association bull riding champion then fought like hell to hang on to Big Mac for 80.25 points, leading to the Kansas City Outlaws fans attending the first-ever Outlaw Days homestand to erupt as Hevalow closed the gap between Kansas City and the Arizona Ridge Riders.
It was the first time a city has hosted its home team in the inaugural PBR Team Series, and the early sample size is that Kansas City is ready to rock for the Outlaws.
The end result, though, was not what they or head coach J.W. Hart wanted on Friday.
The Outlaws lost their home debut 170.5-80.25, but the lasting impression for Hart and his team was just that they know they need to deliver their city a win.
“Nobody knew what to expect, and I was proud of our fans,” a disappointed Hart said following the loss. “We thank them for the support, and we love it. I was proud of our team. I was proud of every guy tonight. This is the grit I am talking about. Once we get a little health behind us, we will be alright. We are banged up. We started the year banged up. We are betting on being healthy for the last six games. We are still planning for today and tomorrow, but we are really banking on the last six.”
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Kansas City is nowhere near 100% to start the PBR Team Series. Heading into its CBS Game of the Week matchup against the Nashville Stampede, the Outlaws are without its first three draft picks – Dalton Kasel, Kyler Oliver and Rafael dos Santos – because of injuries. The team also lost veteran free agent signing Cole Melancon to injury during the preseason.
Therefore, young guns like Hevalow, who the Outlaws plucked off the Ridge Riders practice squad in July, 2022 Rookie of the Year Bob Mitchell and three-time Kansas High School Rodeo Association state champion bull rider Tate Pollmeier and Dustin Martinez are trying to step up and fill some big shoes alongside veteran Marcus Mast.
Hevalow stepped up on Friday, and he will remain in the lineup on Saturday night vs. the Stampede (2-1, Outlaw Days 1-0).
“When I first moved up to the UTB events back in the regular season, I struggled a little bit,” Hevalow said. “One of my teammates, Bob Mitchell, told me it will just take one on these ranker, higher-end bulls to get my confidence up.”
“I’ve known that bull for a while. He bucks hard and is kind of treacherous in a way. It felt good to get one knocked out at this level, especially for my team and this opportunity J.W. gave me, and the crowd made it that much better.”
Kansas City concludes Outlaw Days on Sunday with a game against in-state rival Missouri (2-1, Outlaw Days 0-1).
“We win as a team. We lose as a team. We do everything as a team. I am only worried about my teammates, but I expect the crowd to be loud. I didn’t think they would be that loud.”
“I have a bunch of family and friends here, my mom and dad, it makes it pretty emotional having people I care about here for this.”
SATURDAY GAME SCHEDULE (7:45 p.m. ET RidePass on Pluto TV)
Austin Gamblers (1-2, Outlaw Days 0-1) vs. Missouri Thunder (2-1, Outlaw Days 0-1)
Ariat Texas Rattlers (0-3, Outlaw Days 0-1) vs. Carolina Cowboys (2-1, Outlaw Days 1-0)
Oklahoma Freedom (1-2, Outlaw Days 1-0) vs. Arizona Ridge Riders (2-1, Outlaw Days 1-0)
Nashville Stampede (2-1, Outlaw Days 1-0) vs. Kansas City Outlaws (1-2, Outlaw Days 0-1)*
*CBS Game of the Week (Airs Sunday at noon ET)
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media