Top Ten State Rankings: One Standout Player on Each Team

The top ten rankings have remained mostly unchanged the past week, as Colorado’s top high school programs faced of against some of the better football talent in other states. While schools like Cherry Creek couldn’t overcome the prowess of Chandler High School in Arizona, teams like Valor Christian were able to thrash their out of state opponent. As Week 4 draws near, let us look at the top performers thus far on each ranked contending squad. <ol> <li><strong>Valor Christian: 3-0</strong></li> </ol> <strong>Last</strong>: 9/10 W 41-0 vs Eastside Catholic  <strong>Next:</strong> 9/17 vs Mullen <strong>Top Performer:</strong>  RB [player_tooltip player_id="22667" first="Gavin" last="Sawchuk"] <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> 76 Car, 507 Yards, 6.7 YPC, 6 Touchdowns <strong>Analysis:</strong> No surprise here. The #1 player in the state has proved why he one of Oklahoma’s highest touted recruits. Despite the ever-flowing amount of talent throughout the walls of Valor Christian High School, Sawchuk is the most talented by a decently wide margin. 2. <strong>Cherry Creek: 2-1</strong> <strong>Last:</strong> L 17-7 vs Chandler  <strong>Next: </strong> 9/17 vs Arvada West <strong>Top Performer:</strong> DL [player_tooltip player_id="62241" first="Blake" last="Purchase"] <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> 10 Tackles, 3.0 Sacks, 2 TFL <strong>Analysis:</strong> There’s a reason why the big fella up front on defense is rated at the #1 overall player for the class of 2023. Purchase demonstrates the perfect frame for an every down defensive lineman, standing at 6’4" and weighing in at 220 pounds. He also has a knack for sacking the quarterback, something that is perfectly translatable to the next level. 3. <strong>Lutheran: 3-0</strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/10 W 61-0 vs Battle Mountain  <strong>Next:</strong> 9/17 vs Pueblo Central <strong>Top Performer:</strong> QB [player_tooltip player_id="153674" first="Clayton" last="Jacobs"] <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> Passing: 30/62, 506 Yards, 8 TD’s 2 Int Rushing: 23 Car, 154 Yards, 6.7 YPC, 1 TD <strong>Analysis:</strong> A big part of the Lion’s hot start to the 2021 season is because of Senior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id="153674" first="Clayton" last="Jacobs"]. Lutheran is currently 3-0, and the well-balanced attack directed by Jacobs has been fun to watch. He is a prototypical dual-threat quarterback that forces defenses to pick their choice of poison between the strong, accurate arm of Jacobs and his athletic nimbleness and ability of making plays outside of the pocket, both lose-lose situations for the opposition. 4. <strong>Limon: 2-0 </strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/10 W 20-0 vs Strasburg <strong>Next:</strong> 9/17 vs Bennett Top Performer: RB [player_tooltip player_id="22738" first="Jeremiah" last="Leeper"] 2021 Stats: 31 CAR, 298 Yards, 9.6 YPC, 2 TD’s Analysis: Leeper is the definition of a balanced ball carrier, showcasing blazing speed while also not being afraid of lowering the helmet to get a few extra yards. He’s averaging nearly 150 yards a game thus far, and based on his impressive skill set, these numbers should only skyrocket as the season chugs along. 5. <strong>Columbine: 3-0</strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/10 W 21-11 vs Faith Lutheran<strong>  Next:</strong> 9/17 vs Highlands Ranch <strong>Top Performer:</strong> RB [player_tooltip player_id="22688" first="Seth" last="Cromwell"] <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> 51 CAR, 449 Yards, 8.8 YPC, 9 TD’s <strong>Analysis:</strong> There is no denying it. Mr. Cromwell packs an absolute load. At 210 pounds, Cromwell delivers a physicality to his tacklers that is unreservedly brutal and strenuous. The Senior tailback from Littleton, Colorado has rushed for at least 100 yards for all three of his games, and he is finishing drives by barreling into the end zone with his impressive nine rushing touchdowns. 6. <strong>Regis Jesuit: 3-0 </strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/10 W 35-21 vs Mullen  <strong>Next:</strong> 9/17 vs Smoky Hill <strong>Top Performer</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="150452" first="Exander" last="Carroll"] QB <strong> 2021 Stats:</strong> Passing: 39/67, 516 Yards, 7 TD’s Rushing: 34 CAR, 192 Yards, 5.6 YPC, 2 TD’s <strong>Analysis:</strong> Carroll has always been a great runner, but during the offseason, he put great emphasis on becoming a more accurate passer. Thus far, it has showed. The skillful QB took over the starting competition in Week 1, and he hasn’t looked back since. Carroll is on pace for 21 touchdowns through the air, and even better, Regis Jesuit coaches are salivating at the fact that he has yet to throw an interception on the season. 7. <strong>Pine Creek: 3-0</strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/11 W 41-20 vs Vista Ridge  <strong>Next:</strong> 9/16 vs Discovery Canyon <strong>Top Performer:</strong> LB, WR [player_tooltip player_id="22682" first="Gavin" last="Whetzal"] <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> Receiving: 6 REC, 100 Yards, 1 TD Defense: 18 Tackles, 5 TFL <strong>Analysis:</strong> Whetzal is no stranger to the football field. All you have to do is look out onto the field on a Friday night and the two-way player will be be busy stuffing the run on defense and catching passes on offense. Whetzal does a great Luke Keuchly impersonation, as he is not afraid to ge this nose dirty and wrap up ball carriers in the backfield. Offensively, Whetzal is Pine Creek’s leading receiver and averages nearly 17 yards per catch. 8. <strong>Grandview: 3-0</strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/10 W 28-0 vs Overland  <strong>Next:</strong> 9/17 vs Ralston Valley <strong>Top Performer:</strong> RB [player_tooltip player_id="67977" first="Jonathan" last="Broadus"] <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> 26 CAR, 175 Yards, 6.7 YPC, 5 TD’s <strong>Analysis:</strong> The Grandview Wolves boast one of the more well-rounded squads so far through games, and their #8 state ranking proves that. Another big reason for the Wolves’ success? [player_tooltip player_id="67977" first="Jonathan" last="Broadus"]. The fourth-year tailback knows how to find the end zone at ease, as he is on pace for a spectacular 15 touchdowns on the ground. Broadus is the perfect workhorse for a team that wants to pound the rock and dominate time of possession. A ginormous game against 9th ranked Ralston Valley will be the ultimate test for the senior halfback and Grandview. 9. <strong>Ralston Valley: 3-0</strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/9 W 25-6 vs Loveland  <strong>Next:</strong> 9/17 vs Grandview <strong>Top Performer:</strong> LB, K Steele Fredricks <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> Defense: 36 Tackles, 12 T/G, 1 TFL Kicking: 6/8 ATT, 45 Long, 2/2 XP <strong>Analysis:</strong> There is nothing more beautiful than an oxymoron. Steele Fredricks of the Ralston Valley Mustangs is the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, booting 45-yard field goals and swarming around the football like a bee finding a field of flowers. Kicking and playing linebacker usually don’t go hand in hand, but Fredricks makes it look like salt and pepper. The man of many talents is averaging 12 tackles per game and has only missed two field goals all year. He will look to continue his rather large contribution in the ranked showdown vs Grandview. 10. <strong>Roosevelt: 2-0 </strong> <strong>Last:</strong> 9/10 W 49-10 <strong>Next:</strong> 9/16 vs Harrison <strong>Top Performer:</strong> WR [player_tooltip player_id="22771" first="Tucker" last="Peterson"] <strong>2021 Stats:</strong> 9 REC, 222 Yards, 4 TD’s <strong>Analysis:</strong> Ranked as the fourth best-receiving prospect in the class of 2023, the Junior standout Peterson is turning heads after only two games played. Through only a pair of contests, the electric pass-catcher is averaging 111 yards per game and already has revealed his big-play ability by reeling in a season-long 55 yard grab. He is the Roughriders’ leading receiver by a considerable margin and is starting to put himself on the map as a premier wideout in the state of Colorado.