Cream of the Crop: The Top Playmakers Ahead of Week Three
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Ladies and gentleman, high school football in the State of Colorado is in full swing! As we sit a week into the month of September, there have already been a handful of performers that have stood out and made football…
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Continue ReadingLadies and gentleman, high school football in the State of Colorado is in full swing! As we sit a week into the month of September, there have already been a handful of performers that have stood out and made football fans’ jaw drop in awe at their spectacular abilities. Whether it’s been fitting dimes into small windows, running through tacklers at full speed, or even acting as a heat seeking missile with a straight line to the quarterback for a sack, there are plenty of playmakers to go around on this list. Without further ado, here are some names that are putting themselves on the map in the Centennial State.
QB Rowan Risner Rowan Risner 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Fairview | 2024 State CO 6’1″ 180 Jr. Fairview
Last Game: 32/53, 547 Yards, 17.1 AVG, 7 TD’s, 4 INT’s, 103.5 QBR
2022 Stats: 55/87, 707 Yards, 12.9 AVG, 9 TD’s, 5 INT’s, 99.2 QBR
Leading the Fairview Knights to a whopping 69 points in the win against Lakewood, Risner officially went berserk for seven touchdown strikes through the air and 547 yards as he tormented Tigers defenders all night long. Not to mention, but Fairview’s coaches decided to air it out with their young, talented field general 53 times, which should only signify that the Knights will be wanting to air it out in the coming games. With a rocket for an arm and a good feel in the pocket when dropping back to throw, Risner has the opportunity to do some special things this fall.
RB Alex Larson 6’1″ 200 Jr. Berthoud
Last Game: 28 CAR, 193 Yards, 6.9 AVG, 3 TD’s
2022 Stats: 57 CAR, 444 Yards, 7.8 AVG, 222.0 YPG, 5 TD’s
As a sophomore in 2021, Larson carried the ball only 32 times in a crowded backfield, but he is surely been given a hefty workload as a junior. Almost doubling his production from last year in only two games, the Bethoud back is rumbling his way to some extremely impressive numbers to begin the season. Thus far, he is averaging 222 rushing yards per game and has also found the end zone five times already. As a whole, Berthoud is 2-0 and has outscored their opponents 91-7 through their first two contests.
WR Trek Keyworth 6’2″ 175 Sr. Fossil Ridge
Last Game: 9 REC, 158 Yards, 17.6 AVG, 1 TD
2022 Stats: 19 REC, 347 Yards, 18.3 AVG, 173.5 YPG, 2 TD’s
Standing at a tall and lanky six-foot, two-inches, Keyworth displays phenomenal talent in pinpointing the football in the air and plucking it from the sky in violent fashion. With soft hands, Keyworth has used his skilled route running to find the soft spots in the defense and even break off some runs after the catch. Even though Fossil Ridge came out on the wrong side of a 49-17 blowout against Grandview, the senior wideout was by far the star of the show.
LB Hayden Moore Hayden Moore 6'4" | 195 lbs | LB Regis Jesuit | 2023 State CO 6’3″ 220 Sr. Regis Jesuit
Last Game: 17 Tackles, 1.0 TFL
2022 Stats: 33 Tackles, 16.5 TPG, 5.0 TFL
With three offensive players already on the list, it is about time we switched gears to the defensive side of the ball. One of the top performers on defense with 17 tackles from a week ago, Moore will lead the Red Raiders in what should be an epic matchup with Arapahoe on Friday night. Moore certainly looks the part as a potential Division I linebacker at 6’3″ 220 pounds, and could end up being one of the top linebackers in Colorado thanks to his ability to snuff out runs and even when he uses his speed to get involved in pass coverage.
DL Nashawn Harrison 6’4″ 200 Jr. Littleton
Last Game: 4 Tackles, 2.0 Sacks
2022 Stats: 11 Tackles, 3.5 TPG, 6.0 Sacks
The sack-master himself, Mr. Harrison is on a mission this season to inflict pain on opposing quarterbacks. Averaging a pair of sacks in the first three games of the season, Harrison possesses uncanny strength that few offensive lineman can combat against. Already with six sacks to his name, the sky is the limit for this Littleton junior who was a big reason why the Lions absolutely obliterated Alameda 74-0 on Thursday.
QB Ethan Cook Ethan Cook 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Arvada West | 2023 State CO 6’3″ 180 Sr. Arvada West
Last Game: 13/23, 235 Yards, 18.1 AVG, 2 TD’s, INT, 102.6 QBR
2022 Stats: 50/83, 830 Yards, 16.6 AVG, 11 TD’s, 2 INT’s, 123.5 QBR
The engine of this offense, Cook has been flawless through his first few games under center. In Arvada West’s 35-13 victory over Horizon on Thursday, the senior field general orchestrated the offense to the best of his abilities and finished with a 102.6 quarterback rating. Cook’s arm talent is out of this world, and in his final year of high school football, it appears that he has taken his game to the next level. With a surplus of talent around the talented gunslinger, Arvada West is certainly in good hands the rest of the way.