Playoff Push: Who’s Rising When It Matters Most

This season has been full of highs and lows, and Colorado saw some unsung heroes rise up the ranks and take the state by storm. This article is highlighting offensive playmakers who have risen to the occasion, elevating their teams to higher status. These players will be crucial in getting each of their respective team's to the playoffs in this final push.    The 5'10 205-pound running back has been one of the driving forces behind Fort Collins' offense. He has 205 carries for 1414 yards and 18 touchdowns, with 12 receptions for 130 and 1 touchdown. McKeon is a downhill back that is a rare mixture of strength and speed. He has very good athletic ability due to elite balance, very good speed, acceleration, and good change of direction. He hits the hole with ferocity and uses his very good vision to find routes through the defense. McKeon consistently gets yards after contact, dragging defenders with him or trucking through them. Very good inside runner and outside as well. He hits the perimeter and goes. Good catching and very good ball tracking out of the backfield. He's a legit running back, and colleges need to look his way.     Haines is a premier tackle for Broomfield and has showed out throughout his high school career. The 3-star tackle measures in at 6'7 305-pounds and is a captain too. Haines has elite strength and controls his opponents easily. Very good initial quickness out of his stance and very good hand speed. He's explosive off the snap. Very good foot quickness. Elite hand strength and hand placement. He uses this to control and steer the defender creating lanes for his running back, or more time in the pocket for his QB. Very good knee bend and flexibility. Very good body control. Very good anchor. Stops the bull rush in his tracks, and neutralizes it with ease. He's a powerful run blocker as well. Haines is legit, and his play demands more love than what he is currently getting from the college sphere. He's a P4 tackle in my opinion.     Herrera has lead his team to a 5-2 record going 2-0 in conference play. The 6'3 185-pound passer has 97/146 for 1527 yards, 66.4 % completion rate, with 19 TDs and 3 INT, and 58 carries for 229 yards. Herrera looks even better than last year. has a very quick release paired with very good throw power allowing him to fit the ball in tight windows. Very good ball placement skills. He will throw in stride of his receiver, or right on the money. In contested situations, he will throw the ball up for his guy to make a play. Herrera stays poised in the pocket, going through his progressions and finding the open man downfield. Under pressure, he stays calm or uses his good scramble ability to roll out for a first down. Good roll out ability to the left with his snappy hips. Herrera has been consistent not throwing the ball in harms way, and will continue propelling Pueblo South's ceiling into the playoffs.     Swanson has really stood out throughout this entire season. The 5'11 170-pound receiver has 53 receptions for 837 yards (5th) and 10 touchdowns. Swanson has very good athletic ability due to very good acceleration, speed, change of direction, and good jumping. Very good release at the line of scrimmage, he uses his quick feet to beat the jamming DB. Swanson has fluid route running skills and very good separation quickness. He's able to get open due to his athletic ability, or finding an open void in the zone to exploit. Very good catching and good catch in traffic. Elite body control. Keeps 2 feet in bounds on the sideline, then runs for a 65+ yard touchdown. Wow. He uses his home run speed after the catch to blaze past defenders. This senior has made his mark on Colorado so far.     Measuring in at 5'11 170-pounds, Payne has 134 carries for 1011 yards and 14 touchdowns. Payne is a power back and is also shifty. This bruiser has very good athletic ability due to very good change of direction, speed, balance, and good acceleration. Good quick start. Payne has good vision to weave through the defense or power through them. If a gap is covered, he uses his very good mental processing to pivot into a different hole and run though. He is a very good inside runner, and punishes the defense for tackling him. Good outside running. He gets yards after contact due to defenders slipping off him, or him running through them. Very good strength. In goal line situations, he is used for the easy yardage and has a nose for the endzone. He's a great power back, that deserves some more love.

This season has been full of highs and lows, and Colorado saw some unsung heroes rise up the ranks and take the state by storm. This article is highlighting offensive playmakers who have risen to the occasion, elevating their teams to higher status. These players will be crucial in getting each of their respective team's to the playoffs in this final push.