Colorado

Colorado Supreme Court Rules Trump is Ineligible for the Presidency Under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment

Published

1 year ago

December 19, 2023

Colorado Supreme Court Rules Trump is Ineligible for the Presidency Under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment

Donald Trump speaking — Donald Trump. ( Kyle Mazza/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/Newscom)

Today, the Supreme Court of Colorado ruled that Donald Trump is ineligible to be on the ballot for the 2024 presidential election because he is disqualified by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Section 3 states that “No person” can hold any state or federal office if they had previously been “a member of Congress, or… an officer of the United States” or a state official, and then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” The Colorado court ruled that Trump “engaged in insurrection” because of his role in instigating the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol, and is therefore disqualified. This—and the lower court ruling it reviewed—are the first decisions that address the Section 3 case against Trump on the merits; several previous rulings in other states have dismissed Section 3 claims against Trump on varous procedural grounds.

I can’t give anything like a complete analysis of the 213 pages of majority and dissenting opinions here. But I think the 4-3 majority got it right. Trump is indeed ineligible.

The per curiam majority opinion does an excellent job of handling all the major issues at stake: whether the January 6 attack was an insurrection, whether Trump’s role in it was extensive enough to qualify as engagement, whether the president is an “officer of the United States,” and whether Section 3 is “self-executing” (that is, whether state governments and courts can enforce it in the absence of specialized congressional legislation). In the process, the justices partly affirmed and partly overruled the trial court decision, which held that Trump did indeed engage in insurrection, but let him off the hook on the badly flawed ground that Section 3 doesn’t apply to the president.

The case is now likely headed to the US Supreme Court. The justices may well hear it on an accelerated schedule, so as to resolve the case before we go too far into the GOP primary process. The Colorado Court has stayed its decision until at least January 4, to allow time for appeals to the US Supreme Court.

The 4-3 vote is not as close as it looks. Two of the three dissenting justices did so on the ground that Colorado state election law doesn’t give the state courts the authority to decide Section 3 issues. They did not endorse any of the federal constitutional arguments on Trump’s side. And these state statutory issues probably cannot be reviewed by the US Supreme Court, because state supreme courts are the final arbiters of the meaning of state law (with a few exceptions that do not apply here).

I think it’s fairly obvious that the January 6 attack on the Capitol amounts to an insurrection, and the Colorado justices also concluded this is not a close issue:

[F]or purposes of deciding this case, we need not adopt a single, all-encompassing definition of the word “insurrection.” Rather, it suffices for us to conclude that any definition of “insurrection” for purposes of Section Three would encompass a concerted and public use of force or threat of force by a group of people to hinder or prevent the U.S. government from taking the actions necessary to accomplish a peaceful transfer of power in this country.

This is an important point that I have tried to highlight in some of my own writings about the case. January 6 qualifies as an “insurrection” even under a fairly narrow definition of the term that is limited to the use of force to take over the powers of government. We don’t need to rely on much broader definitions advocated by some legal scholars.

The Colorado Court didn’t address the argument that there was no insurrection because the rioters and Trump sincerely believed he won the election, and therefore thought they were acting to protect the Constitution. But, under that reasoning, most of the ex-Confederates whom Section 3 was originally enacted to disqualify would also have been exempt, since they sincerely believed the secession of the southern states was legally authorized by the Constitution (and they had far better legal arguments for their position than Trump for his).

As I see it, the hardest issue raised in the case is whether Trump’s involvement in the insurrection was extensive enough to count as “engaging” in it. On this question, the justices affirmed the detailed and compelling analysis of the district judge, much of which rests on factual findings that can only be reversed for “clear error.” They also emphasized this important point:

As our detailed recitation of the evidence shows, President Trump did not merely incite the insurrection. Even when the siege on the Capitol was fully under way, he continued to support it by repeatedly demanding that Vice President Pence refuse to perform his constitutional duty and by calling Senators to persuade them to stop the counting of electoral votes. These actions constituted overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the insurrection.

As I pointed out in a recent Bulwark article about the case, this goes beyond encouraging violence (as Trump did before the attack) or failing to try to stop it. It amounts to using the attack as leverage to try to force Congress to keep him in power. Using a violent insurrection in this way surely qualifies as “engaging in it,” even if Trump’s other actions fell short of doing so. Even if this somehow still falls short of “engagement,” this and Trump’s other actions surely at least gave “aid and comfort to the enemies” of the United States.

The court also gave a thorough and compelling explanation for its rejection of the argument that the president is not an “officer of the United States” covered by Section 3. Here is a key excerpt:

When interpreting the Constitution, we prefer a phrase’s normal and ordinary usage over “secret or technical meanings that would not have been known to ordinary citizens in the founding generation.”District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570, 577 (2008). Dictionaries from the time of the Fourteenth Amendment’s ratification define “office“ as a “particular duty, charge or trust conferred by public authority, and for a public purpose,” that is “undertaken by . . . authority from government or those who administer it.” Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language 689 (Chauncey A. Goodrich ed., 1853); see also 5 Johnson‘s English Dictionary 646 (J.E. Worcester ed., 1859) (defining “office” as “a publick charge or employment; magistracy”);United States v. Maurice, 26 F. Cas. 1211, 1214 (C.C.D. Va. 1823) (No. 15,747) (“An office is defined to be ‘a public charge or employment,‘ . . . .”). The Presidency falls comfortably within these definitions…..

The preference for “ordinary meaning” is a standard tenet endorsed by most originalist judges. The quote from Heller to this effect is by the late Justice Scalia, a major icon of originalist jurisprudence.

And it’s pretty obvious that the ordinary meaning of “officer of the United States” includes the holder of the most powerful office in the federal government! As the Colorado Supreme Court puts it, “President Trump asks us to hold that Section Three disqualifies every oath-breaking insurrectionist except the most powerful one and that it bars oath-breakers from virtually every office, both state and federal, except the highest one in the land. Both results are inconsistent with the plain language and history of Section Three.”

The opinion also addresses the argument that the presidency was excluded because it wasn’t specifically listed, but some other positions (e.g.—members of Congress) were:

It seems most likely that the Presidency is not specifically included because it is so evidently an “office.” In fact, no specific office is listed in Section Three; instead, the Section refers to “any office, civil or military.” U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 3. True, senators, representatives, and presidential electors are listed, but none of these positions is considered an “office” in the Constitution. Instead, senators and representatives are referred to as “members” of their respective bodies.

I would add that senators, representatives, and electors are less clearly officers than the president, because they do not have individual authority to issue orders to subordinates, a point I expounded on in my Bulwark article.

The Court similarly addressed the issue of whether Section 3 is self-executing. The key point here is that every other part of the Fourteenth Amendment is considered self-executing, despite the fact that Congress can provide for additional enforcement through its power to enact “appropriate” enforcement legislation under Section 5. There is no good reason to exempt Section 3 from this general principle:

The Supreme Court has said that the Fourteenth Amendment “is undoubtedly self-executing without any ancillary legislation, so far as its terms are applicable to any existing state of circumstances.” The Civil Rights Cases, 109 U.S. 3, 20 (1883). To be sure, in the Civil Rights Cases, the Court was directly focused on the Thirteenth Amendment, so this statement could be described as dicta. But an examination of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments (“Reconstruction Amendments”) and interpretation of them supports the accuracy and broader significance of the statement….
There is no textual evidence that Congress intended Section Three to be any different…. Furthermore, we agree with the [plaintiffs] that interpreting any of the Reconstruction Amendments, given their identical structure, as not self-executing would lead to absurd results. If these Amendments required legislation to make them operative, then Congress could nullify them by simply not passing enacting legislation. The result of such inaction would mean that slavery remains legal; Black citizens would be counted as less than full citizens for reapportionment; non-white male voters could be disenfranchised; and any individual who engaged in insurrection against the government would nonetheless be able to serve in the government. government, regardless of whether two-thirds of Congress had lifted the disqualification.

Justice Samour, the only one of the three dissenters who based his position on any federal constitutional issue, argues that Section 3 cannot be self-executing because making it so would deprive candidates for office of the “due process of law.” But the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment only provides a guarantee of due process before a person can be deprived of “life, liberty, or property.”

Disqualification under Section 3 doesn’t threaten any of these. Loss of eligibility for holding various types of public offices pretty obviously doesn’t threaten anyone’s life or property rights. And it isn’t a threat to liberty, either. No one claims that the Twenty-Second Amendment deprives people of “liberty” merely because they become ineligible for the presidency if they have already served two terms.

The Supreme Court has held (wrongly in my view) that a degree of constitutional due process is required for deprivation of some types government benefits, particularly those that provide essential needs, such as welfare benefits for the poor.

Eligibility for the presidency isn’t an essential need in the same way. If Trump is no longer eligible for the presidency, he isn’t going to starve or become homeless. And even when it comes to deprivation of vital welfare benefits for the poor, the Supreme Court has held that due process requires only an administrative hearing, not a “.” The five-day trial held by the district court in the Colorado case in which both sides presented extensive evidence and expert testimony easily meets any plausible due process requirements for a case like this, even if we assume that the Due Process Clause applies (which I think it does not).

I am not qualified to comment on the Colorado statutory issues raised by the other two dissenting justices. To me, it would be strange if the law did not give state courts the power to adjudicate cases over Section 3 disqualification, just as they routinely consider other candidate eligibility issues. But I am no expert on Colorado election law, and therefore might be missing something. I will only reiterate that the federal Supreme Court probably lacks the power to review the Colorado state court’s resolution of these issues of state statutory law.

The same point applies to the Colorado court’s conclusion that, under state law, candidates ineligible for the presidency are barred from appearing on primary ballots, as well as those for the general election.

More can be said. But this post is already too long, and I will stop—for now. I will probably have more to say as this case moves on to what is likely to be review by the federal Supreme Court.

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Colorado

Assane Diop scores 15 points and Colorado breezes past Bellarmine 79-55

Published

59 minutes ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Assane Diop scores 15 points and Colorado breezes past Bellarmine 79-55

Associated Press

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Assane Diop scored 15 points and Colorado built a 29-point halftime lead before cruising past Bellarmine 79-55 on Saturday for its fourth straight win.

Bellarmine led 6-4 three minutes into the game, but Colorado allowed just 10 points the rest of the half. Diop scored seven points in a 15-0 run that gave the Buffaloes a 29-10 lead with about 5 minutes left and they took a 45-16 lead at halftime.

Bellarmine made 1 of 14 3-pointers and was 5 for 27 overall in the first half for 18.5%. Colorado shot 52%, led by Diop who made 6 of 8 and scored 13 points.

Colorado cooled off to 42% in the second half and was outscored 39-34. Bellarmine shot 61.5% in the second half.

Colorado led 60-23 before the Lions chipped away with five 3-pointers in their next six made shots but it only got them within 70-41 with 7 minutes remaining.

RJ Smith scored 11 points and Julian Hammond III had 10 points for Colorado (9-2), which is 8-0 at home.

Dezmond McKinney scored 12 points for Bellarmine (3-10).

Colorado makes its Big 12 debut on Dec. 30 with a home game against Iowa State.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Colorado

The Denver Post’s 2024 All-Colorado football team

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

The Denver Post’s 2024 All-Colorado football team

The 2024 All-Colorado football team, as selected by The Denver Post staff based on statistical analysis, relative value to team success, postseason production and the old-fashioned eye test.

Austyn Modrzewski

All-Colorado selection Austyn Modrzewski of Mountain Vista poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

QB | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 6-foot-5 | 203 pounds

The CHSAA Class 5A player of the year rewrote the record book this fall, setting Colorado career marks for passing yards (11,911), passing touchdowns (147) and passing completions (814). The South Dakota commit led the state with 3,407 passing yards and 57 passing TDs while steering the Golden Eagles to another quarterfinal appearance following an undefeated regular season.

Gavin Ishmael

QB | Frederick | Sr. | 6-2 | 210

The Golden Eagles star was a dual threat, as he threw for 2,780 yards with 31 touchdowns to just four interceptions and ran for 697 yards with 12 touchdowns. He played through injuries, including a partial quad tear and a shoulder sprain, to lead Frederick to the playoffs. Ishmael is weighing RMAC offers from CSU Pueblo, Colorado Mesa, Mines, Chadron State and Black Hills State.

Zeke Andrews

QB | Ralston Valley | Jr. | 6-5 | 205

Andrews had big shoes to fill taking over for two-time All-Colorado QB Logan Madden, but he did it. The Mustangs star and Metro League Offensive MVP led his team to the Class 5A quarterfinals with 2,383 passing yards and a 70% completion rate that was second in the state behind Modrzewski. He also threw 19 TDs to three picks and rushed for 701 yards and eight touchdowns.

Gavin Lockett

QB | Pueblo West | Sr. | 6-0 | 185

The Northern Colorado pledge led the Cyclones to the Class 4A semifinals as a true dual-threat quarterback. Lockett passed for 1,274 yards and 14 touchdowns while also running for 1,369 yards and 22 touchdowns, for an average of 105.3 yards per game on the ground. The dynamic athlete who can fly with a 10.90-second time in the 100 meters was named the SoCo 1 League Offensive MVP.

Elijah Womack

RB | Montrose | Jr. | 6-0 | 190

Womack led the state with 2,285 rushing yards, averaging 163.2 yards per game and 7.01 yards per carry. He was the centerpiece of a Red Hawks team that was a Class 4A finalist. Womack ran for 30 touchdowns and had just one fumble on the season, and he ran for over 100 yards in each of Montrose’s 14 games, including cracking the 200-yard mark twice in four-touchdown performances.

James Basinger

RB | Columbine | Sr. | 5-11 | 192

The heart and soul of the Rebels’ ground-and-pound offense, Basinger ran for 1,743 yards with 25 touchdowns as part of Columbine’s two-headed monster alongside junior Mark Snyder. The South Dakota State commit was the Class 5A Metro League MVP while helping the Rebels to the quarterfinals and was also Columbine’s leading receiver, adding two TDs by air.

Jaden Lawrence

RB | Legend | Sr. | 5-11 | 185

The Wyoming commit was a central reason for Legend’s run to its first state title appearance. Lawrence showed off his track speed in the open field and could also bruise for yards between the tackles as a physical runner who was tough to bring down. Legend’s best-ever running back ran for 1,743 yards and 12 touchdowns, and his sure hands also added 24 catches for 276 yards and five TDs.

Jayden Fox

RB | Cherry Creek | Jr. | 5-11 | 185

Fox battled through an ankle injury in the latter stages of the playoffs but was still an impactful force in the run game en route to Cherry Creek winning the Class 5A crown again. Fox, a Bruins captain and the MVP on a team stacked with Division I players, has an offer from Charlotte. He ran for 1,815 yards and 10 touchdowns, breaking the 100-yard mark in 10 of the Bruins’ 14 games.

Zayne DeSouza

TE | Loveland | Sr. | 6-6 | 255

The CU pledge came into his own at tight end following a weight-loss journey that saw him shed roughly 75 pounds since the start of his sophomore year. DeSouza was a premier blocker at the position in Loveland’s run-heavy offense, and he was the Red Wolves’ leading receiver with 51 catches for 446 yards and six TDs. He also played impactful snaps at defensive end.

Camden Jensen

TE | Heritage | Jr. | 6-7 | 250

One of Colorado’s most highly recruited players passes the eye test, hence why he has more than 20 Division I offers, most of them Power 4. Jensen was a monster in the run game, with the ability to block at the line of scrimmage and pancake linebackers in the second level, too. He had 32 catches for 250 yards and four touchdowns, and Heritage also used his size and physicality on defense.

Tanner Terch

WR | Heritage | Sr. | 6-2 | 180

Heritage’s other star was the team’s Player of the Year after putting up dazzling numbers. The Nebraska commit had 58 catches for 1,312 yards and 16 touchdowns and averaged 100.9 yards receiving per game. Terch’s speed, route-running and ability to beat cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage stood out while catching passes from QB Jamison Seese. He also chipped in two rushing TDs.

Andrew Smart

WR | Arapahoe | Sr. | 6-3 | 185

The Warriors’ speedy wideout was tough to pin down with just one defensive back. Smart had 67 catches for 1,098 yards and 14 TDs. He was also Arapahoe’s punter and punt returner, bringing a wrinkle to special teams. He was capable of clutch catches, stretching the field and racking up yards after catch on short routes as well. He has an offer from Dartmouth, with potentially more coming.

Marcus Mozer

WR | Fossil Ridge | Sr. | 6-3 | 210

The 2024 Denver Post Gold Helmet award winner was a force for Fossil Ridge, despite facing double- and sometimes triple-coverage throughout the season. Mozer had 66 catches for 933 yards and 13 touchdowns as he used his track speed and size to dominate opposing defensive backs. The San Diego State commit also had five rushing TDs and saw time at free safety.

Sean Conway

WR | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 6-0 | 160

Modrzewski’s top target was always a threat to zoom past the defense and catch a go-route. His longest this fall was an 87-yard TD. He has RMAC offers from Western Colorado, Colorado School of Mines and CSU Pueblo. Conway had 38 catches for 771 yards and 14 touchdowns, with ultra-reliable hands and the ability to catch the ball in traffic while taking a hit to his relatively thin frame.

Jeremiah Hoffman

WR | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-1 | 175

The Bruins’ top wideout was committed to Charlotte but reopened his recruitment after a coaching change. Hoffman had 44 catches for 874 yards, good for 19.9 yards per catch, as well as seven touchdowns. He has bona fide track speed (10.8 seconds in the 100 meters), and the wideout nicknamed “Head Top” has an uncanny ability to win jump balls over cornerbacks short and tall.

Xay Neto

WR | Grandview | Sr. | 5-11 | 170

Neto’s production dipped slightly this season from his 1,000-yard campaign as an All-Colorado junior, but he remained one of the most explosive and dangerous players on the field regardless of who the Wolves were playing. Neto had 52 catches for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns. The speedster with sure hands is committed to Garden City and could be a star at the juco level.

Soren Shinofield

OL | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-6 | 285

After taking on a rotational role last season, Shinofield came into his own as a senior to help pave the way for Cherry Creek’s run game that averaged 226.6 yards per game. The Utah commit played left tackle and also helped protect quarterback Brady Vodicka’s blind side. When faced with the challenge of a stiff Legend defensive line in the title game, his play helped rally the Bruins in the second half.

Aidan Martin

OL | Northfield | Sr. | 6-6 | 265

The Nighthawks captain has length, size and an edge to his game that set him apart over the last few years and during the recruiting process. The right tackle was a big reason for Northfield’s first winning seasons over the past four years, and the Washington State commit led the Nighthawks to the Class 4A Denver Metro League championship while setting the tone in pass- and run-blocking.

Jack Heath

OL | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 6-6 | 300

While the Golden Eagles skill guys got plenty of recognition this season — three are on this team — Heath helped set the tone up front. His play at guard enabled Modrzewski to have plenty of time to drop back and pick defenses apart, while his dominance in the run game consistently opened up huge holes for Mountain Vista tailback Jack Blais. He also saw time on the defensive line.

Cole Powell

OL | Erie | Sr. | 6-7 | 265

The Eastern Michigan commit was a force at left tackle for the Tigers as they made the quarterfinals in their first season in Class 5A. Erie’s captain helped them to the Front Range South League championship, and he was a driving factor in the Tigers averaging 235.5 rushing yards per game. That included a 1,000-yard rusher in junior Braylon Toliver, plus three other guys over 350 yards.

Kannon Smith

OL | Valor Christian | Jr. | 6-5 | 280

As the Eagles made a push to the Class 5A semifinals before falling to champion Cherry Creek, Smith was a linchpin at left tackle. He has eight Division I offers, including Michigan, Miami, Ole Miss, Kansas State and Colorado State, as one of the most sought-after junior linemen in the state. He also played on the defensive line, where he had 32 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Jordan Rechel

ATH | Fairview | Sr. | 5-11 | 180

The Knights star keyed their run to the Class 5A semifinals. He was a game-breaker at wideout, running back and defensive back, was Fairview’s team MVP and also finished as the program’s all-time TDs leader. He had 891 yards and 19 TDs on the ground, 1,001 yards and eight TDs by air, and 78 tackles and three picks. He has offers from New Mexico, Northern Colorado and CSU Pueblo.

Cash Spence

ATH | Valor Christian | Jr. | 5-10 | 175

The Eagles’ do-everything athlete could, to quote “Friday Night Lights,” do everything up to and including painting your back porch. He played wideout, running back, safety and returner. Spence had 72 catches for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per catch. He had 15 rushing TDs and threw a TD, too. He was also a dynamic returner and had 52 tackles (5.5 for loss) on defense.

Max Mervin

ATH | Ponderosa | Sr. | 6-0 | 185

As Ponderosa’s star, “Swervin” Mervin was elusive in the open field with the ball in his hands. He had 50 catches for 642 yards and six touchdowns, and was also one of the top kick returners in the state, earning him the honor of South Metro League Specialist of the Year. The Colorado School of Mines commit also saw time in the secondary, where he had three interceptions, including a pick-six.

Levi Hermsen

ATH | Fort Collins | Sr. | 5-11 | 180

The Lambkin of the Year did a bit of everything for Fort Collins this season as they made the Class 5A playoffs. Hermsen was first in the state in receptions with 93, second in the state in receiving yards (1,311) and yards per game (119.2), and caught 12 touchdowns while averaging 14.1 yards per catch. He also racked up 1,007 yards in returns, with a 34.9-yard average on kickoffs and two TDs.

Jack Blais

ATH | Mountain Vista | Sr. | 5-7 | 160

Talk about tough to tackle. Once Blais got the ball in open space, his speed and shiftiness made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. With Modrzewski throwing him the ball, Blais had 32 catches for 631 yards and 12 touchdowns. And on the ground, he racked up 1,013 yards with an eye-popping 8.8 yards-per-carry average, including 14 touchdowns and five 100-yard games.

Keegan Perea

DL | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-3 | 250

The Nevada commit is a handful to block, and the opposition had a tough time doing so. Perea faced consistent double-teams all season, and his ability to stuff the run was a major reason for Cherry Creek’s comeback in the Class 5A title game. Perea finished with 78 tackles (five for loss) and four sacks. He was a game-changer on the edge with speed and strength to keep plays inside.

Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais

All-Colorado selection Tufanua Umu~Cais poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

DL | Cherry Creek | Jr. | 6-3 | 285

Part of the Division I-laden Bruins defensive line along with Perea, Umu-Cais has more than 20 Division I offers, most of them Power 4. Being sick and out of practice all week leading up to the championship game didn’t stop him from being a force in the trenches. He had 75 tackles (eight for loss), with two sacks. He also bolstered Cherry Creek’s offensive line in his first full season at right guard.

John Niedringhaus

DL | Legend | Sr. | 6-3 | 220

Legend had several playmakers along its D-line, but Niedringhaus was the centerpiece. He led Legend with 120 tackles, including 20 for loss, as well as nine sacks and seven hurries. He was one reason the Titans shut out Cherry Creek in the first half of the Class 5A championship in a defensive slugfest that not many saw coming. Uncommitted, but has the talent to play at the next level.

DJ Crowe

DL | Denver East | Sr. | 6-4 | 220

The Angels’ star pass-rusher terrorized opposing quarterbacks for three seasons. Crowe ranked third in Class 5A with 11.5 sacks and also posted 27 hurries. With the word out on him after notching double-digit sack totals as a sophomore and junior, he routinely faced double- and triple-teams and opposing offenses consistently ran away from him. He holds offers from a handful of RMAC schools.

Jaxon Pyatt

LB | Arvada West | Jr. | 6-2 | 220

Amid the Wildcats’ resurgence as a program, Pyatt emerged as a star. Strong and fast, he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Class 5A Metro League. He has offers from Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Missouri and Wisconsin. He led the Wildcats with 140 tackles, including 18 for loss, four sacks and an interception as he was a serious mismatch for would-be blockers.

CJ James

LB | Thompson Valley | Sr. | 6-6 | 220

As the Eagles went 14-0 en route to the program’s first state title, James was a stalwart on both sides of the ball. In addition to 27 catches for 324 yards and four TDs as a wideout, the CSU Pueblo commit plugged up the second level on defense. James had 68 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks that helped the Eagles defense hold opponents to a paltry 6.36 points per game.

Carson Hageman

LB | Erie | Sr. | 6-0 | 205

The stout middle linebacker is committed to Air Force, and his physicality and skill were one big reason the Tigers were able to run with the big dogs in their first year in Class 5A. He paced Erie with 134 tackles, including 18 for loss. He also posted six sacks and nine hurries as a defensive star who was able to tackle in open space, stuff tailbacks at the line and get to the quarterback.

Landon Kalsbeck

LB | Dakota Ridge | Jr. | 6-2 | 210

Dakota Ridge’s two-way star propelled the Eagles to the Class 4A semifinals. Kalsbeck has an offer from Hawaii and was named the CHSAA Class 4A player of the year. He had 1,511 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns on offense, and was a menace on defense, too. Kalsbeck recorded 90 tackles, including 15.5 for loss, as well as a team-best 11 sacks, 20 hurries and three forced fumbles.

Jace Filleman

LB | Regis Jesuit | Sr. | 6-3 | 225

The Colorado School of Mines commit, who also stars in baseball for the Raiders, highlighted for Regis at edge/outside linebacker. He had 70 tackles, including 12 for loss, as well as a team-best 6.5 sacks and 12 hurries. He brought a seasoned, physical presence to a young team. He also made an impact on offense with nine catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns at tight end.

Mikhail Benner

DB | Broomfield | Sr. | 6-0 | 185

Benner played big in the final games of the tournament, as his flashy play helped the Eagles cruise by Dakota Ridge in the semifinals and then rally to beat Montrose for the Class 4A title. He had 46 tackles on the season, with three interceptions, three forced fumbles and five pass-break ups. The Air Force pledge was also Broomfield’s leading wideout with 31 catches for 710 yards and 10 TDs.

Elvin Ampofo

DB | Eaglecrest | Sr. | 6-1 | 170

A central force in the Eaglecrest defense, Ampofo consistently stuck his nose into plays as a physical defensive back who tallied 90 tackles. He had four interceptions, nine pass deflections and three forced fumbles. Opposing offenses often threw away from the Wyoming commit’s side of the field due to his athleticism, ability to cover on deep routes and his playmaking on jump balls.

Bennett Wilkes

DB | Wheat Ridge | Sr. | 6-1 | 200

The Farmers’ two-way star tied for third in the state with seven picks, and he also had 48 tackles and a forced fumble. The Northern Colorado commit was Wheat Ridge’s best wideout, too, with 77 catches for 1,201 yards and 14 touchdowns. His track speed (10.9 seconds in the 100 meters) showed on both sides of the ball, and he was able to consistently lock down the other team’s top wideout.

Aiden Knapke

DB | Cherry Creek | Sr. | 6-0 | 190

The Washington State commit has been a staple in the Cherry Creek secondary since he was a freshman and capped off his high school career with another strong season. Knapke led the Bruins defense with 128 tackles, including five for loss, and had two interceptions and 16 passes defensed. He had several clutch break-ups in the second half of the Class 5A title game to lead the Bruins.

Rhett Armstrong

K/P | Palmer Ridge | Sr. | 6-6 | 200

Palmer Ridge’s star kicker — who stepped in at quarterback in the Class 4A quarterfinals and threw for 208 yards — went 57 of 57 on PATs this year. The Baylor commit was also 5 of 6 on field goal attempts, including a classification-record 62-yarder on Sept. 13 that’s tied for the third-longest field goal in CHSAA history. Armstrong had 69 touchbacks on 77 kickoffs and a 43-yard punt average.

Jamie Steele

Coach of the Year, Thompson Valley

The Eagles’ boss led Thompson Valley to the first state title in program history with a 16-14 victory over Mead in the Class 3A championship. Steele’s personable approach led him to develop a rapport with his players after taking over as interim head coach in 2023. Thompson Valley is Steele’s first head coaching gig in 28 years coaching high school football, and he’s making the most of it.

Honorable Mention

Fairview High School's Toray Davis (21) is defended by Mountain Vista High School's Bryce Bailey (12) during the 5A state playoff game at EchoPark Stadium, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 in Parker. Fairview High School won the game in the last few moments 49-45 and will advance to the final four. The game was moved from Halftime Help Stadium after the lights went out. (Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post) — Fairview’s Toray Davis (21) is defended by Mountain Vista’s Bryce Bailey (12) during the 5A state playoff game at EchoPark Stadium on Nov. 22 in Parker. Fairview won the game in the last few moments 49-45 and will advance to the final four. The game was moved from Halftime Help Stadium after the lights went out. (Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Denver Post)

Quarterback

Jamison Seese, Jr., Heritage; Brady Vodicka, Jr., Cherry Creek; Bryce Riehl, Sr., Mesa Ridge; Nick Kubat, Sr., Fossil Ridge; Andrew Brown, Sr., The Classical Academy; Ki Ellison, So., Fairview; Dawson Olk, Jr., Valor Christian; Kellen Behrendsen, Jr., Dakota Ridge

Running Back

Amari Brown, Sr., Pueblo Central; Tay Wheat, Sr., Montezuma-Cortez; Mark Snyder, Jr., Columbine; Braylon Toliver, Jr., Erie; Adrian Symalla, Jr., Arvada West; Colton Lucero, Jr., Pagosa Springs; Tyler Meyer, Sr. Rock Canyon; Colin Torres, Sr., Broomfield

Tight End

Jackson Blanchard, Sr., Castle View; Henry Hurd, Sr., Aspen; Caleb Kasayka, Sr., Air Academy

Wide Receiver

Nico Benallo, Jr., Ralston Valley; Ben Herbek, Sr., Valor Christian; Luke Strickland, Sr., Fairview; Cael Buxton, Sr., Lamar; Kobe Dooley, Jr., Mesa Ridge; Alijah Landrum-Hamilton, So., Cherry Creek; Maxwell Lovett, Jr., Cherry Creek

Offensive Line

Ned Zilinskas, Sr., Cherry Creek; Mason Bandhauer, Jr., Fort Collins; Isaac Schmitz, Sr., Legend; Ben Brown, Sr., Arapahoe; Peyton Burcar, Sr., Columbine; Gage Turnbull, Jr., Legend; Jesse Wolf, Sr., Chatfield; Kaden Clough, Sr., Pueblo West; Isaiah Garcia Perez, Jr., Broomfield; Court Towns, Sr., Palmer Ridge; Deacon Schmitt, Jr., Windsor; Oliver Miller, Jr., Cherry Creek

Athletes

Toray Davis, Jr., Fairview; Samuel Meisner, Sr., Wray; Elijah Roy, Sr., Pine Creek; Jakhai Mack, Sr., Mountain Vista; Mason Bonner, Jr., Mullen; De’Alcapon Veazy, Sr., Ponderosa; Emmitt Munson, Jr., Pomona; Casey Midcap, Sr., Wray; Tanner Gray, Jr., Wellington; Sawyer Wald, Sr., Lutheran; Mason Markovich, Sr., Glenwood Springs; Brock Kolstad, Sr., Fairview

Defensive Line

Adrian Lee, Jr., Chaparral; Will Monroe, Jr., Columbine; Tatum O’Donnell, Sr., Legend; Andreas Distel, Sr., Montrose; Ty Lacrue, Sr., Broomfield; Justus Derickson, Sr., Rampart; Matthew Zeck, Jr., Pueblo West; Izaya Hawkins, Sr., Pomona; Cade Brooke, Sr., Cherokee Trail; Brody Sieck, Jr., Arapahoe; Enzo Hernandez, Jr., Jefferson; Tristan Montanez, Sr., Roosevelt; Elliot Smyth, Sr., Valor Christian

Linebacker

Ashton Shepardson, Sr., Cherry Creek; Brody Flores, Jr., Grandview; Carter Daniels, Sr., Mountain Vista; Grayson Isenhart, Sr., Coal Ridge; Logan Kundred, Sr., Chatfield; Matt Gates, Sr., Ralston Valley; Wyatt Bartel, Sr., Durango; Josh Gonsalves, Jr., Mead; Will Daniel, Sr., Basalt; Maverick Powers, Sr., Montrose; Caden Absher, Sr., Douglas County; Moises Freeman, Sr., Valor Christian

Defensive Back

Brody Shuss, Sr., Legend; Payton Aukland, Sr., Legend; Jack Offerdahl, Jr., Dakota Ridge; Devin Szabelski, Sr., Westminster; Robert Wittke, Jr., Denver West; Elijah Brotherns, Sr., Sand Creek; Atticus Tillman, Jr., Arvada West; Trevon Polk, Sr., Cherry Creek

Kicker/Punter

Mason Walters, Sr. Valor Christian; Andrew Astone, Sr., Chatfield; Jack Manthey, Jr., Regis Jesuit; Alekzander Britt, Sr., Mountain Range; Mason Crosby, Sr., Chaparral

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Toyota Game Recap: 12/20/2024 | Colorado Avalanche

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17 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Toyota Game Recap: 12/20/2024 | Colorado Avalanche

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