A contentious plan to drill up to 166 oil and gas wells on the southeastern fringe of metro Denver, near hundreds of homes and the Aurora Reservoir — a drinking water source for nearly 400,000 people — will finally land before state energy regulators this week for a key decision on its fate.
Neighbors worried about potential health and ecological impacts from the project want the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission to say no to the plan after an extensive hearing that’s set to begin Tuesday. The oil and gas producer behind it hopes to install hydraulic fracturing operations at eight sites across Lowry Ranch in Arapahoe County over the next four years.
“The main problem is the effect on public welfare, safety and health,” said Marsha Kamin, who moved to Aurora’s Southshore neighborhood 18 months ago from Michigan. “We’re talking about thousands and thousands and thousands of people.”
As Colorado’s population has ballooned in recent decades, especially in Denver’s northern and eastern suburbs that overlay the mineral-rich Denver-Julesburg Basin, friction has grown between new and expanding neighborhoods and the oil and gas operations set up nearby. Six years ago, the evolving standoff led to an attempt by a citizen group to appreciably increase the required distance between wells and homes through a statewide ballot initiative. Voters shot it down.
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The Southshore neighborhood and the southern edge of Aurora Reservoir are seen on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Aurora. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Less than a year later, the legislature passed Senate Bill 19-181 and Gov. Jared Polis signed it into law. The law prioritized public health, safety and the environment when state officials consider oil and gas development — a profound change from the industry-focused approach Colorado had taken for decades with energy extraction.
Kamin and her neighbors, hundreds of whom are part of the Save the Aurora Reservoir advocacy group, are putting their hopes in Colorado’s five-year-old oil and gas reform law to halt the project. The group has been working to derail Crestone Peak Resources’ proposed fracking plan for the better part of two years.
“It’s disheartening that an industry can have this much power over people,” Kamin said.
But Lowry Ranch opponents may face a bumpy road this week, following a recommendation by the Energy and Carbon Management Commission’s director, Julie Murphy, that the board of commissioners approve the comprehensive area plan for the project.
In her final determination this month, Murphy wrote that Crestone’s plan “complies with all applicable requirements” in the ECMC’s rules.
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The commission’s Tuesday hearing is scheduled to go all day, with a second meeting set for Friday if more time is needed. A decision to deny, approve or stay the plan is expected by week’s end, agency spokesman Chris Arend told The Denver Post.
If the overall plan wins approval, more hearings would be needed to consider individual well pads and wells, at both the state and county levels. Though the opponents largely live nearby in Aurora, Colorado’s third-largest city, the pads would be on state-owned land in an unincorporated part of the county just over Aurora’s city line.
While the ECMC approved more than 800 oil and gas wells in 2022 and more than 700 last year, it has denied applications to drill in recent years. In 2022, it said no to a plan from Kerr-McGee to drill 33 wells near a Firestone neighborhood. The commissioners’ main objection centered on 62 houses that would have been too close to a well pad, violating the state’s minimum 2,000-foot setback from homes and schools.
In January, the commission denied permits for 18 wells at Coyote Trails near the border of Erie and Broomfield.
Ann Hussain, who lives in Southshore with a sweeping backyard view of the Aurora Reservoir, said she learned about Crestone’s plans only in the spring. She worries that drilling under the reservoir could result in contaminants leaking into the body of water or into aquifers.
Ann Hussain, Southshore resident, poses for a portrait at her home in Aurora on Thursday, July 25, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
She also worries about air pollution generated at the well pads, one of which would lie less than a mile from a school. One of the eight pads, dubbed State Sunlight-Long, would be just 3,200 feet from her back fence. Thirty-two wells are planned for Sunlight-Long.
“I can’t believe you can take a community and set up an industry right outside these backyards,” Hussain said. “How is it that this can be done so close to people’s homes?”
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Plan meets more expansive county buffer
The answer to that question lies in the state’s oil and gas rules, which permit drilling outside a 2,000-foot buffer from schools and neighborhoods. Last fall, Arapahoe County commissioners imposed even wider setbacks than what the state requires, mandating a 3,000-foot buffer between wells and occupied structures, landfills and reservoirs — both existing and planned.
That rule-making followed an attempt by project opponents in April 2023 to get Arapahoe County to impose a six-month halt on issuing new permits to energy companies to drill. The county commissioners voted 3-2 to reject a moratorium.
Rich Coolidge, a spokesman for Crestone parent company Civitas Resources, said not only does the Lowry Ranch plan comply with state rules, it also hews to Arapahoe County’s oil and gas regulations.
“The redundant safeguards and subsequent monitoring have shown that oil and natural gas development can safely occur without impacting groundwater and surface water sources,” Coolidge wrote in an email. “In fact, multiple layers of steel casing and cement underneath more than a mile of rock separate the wellbore from our state’s aquifers and surface water like the Aurora Reservoir.”
The open space next to the Southshore neighborhood, just south of Aurora Reservoir, is seen on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Aurora. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Crestone plans to drill 7,500 feet below the surface before running its wells horizontally. Coolidge said wells have “been drilled over a mile below tens of thousands of homes in the Front Range, with no impacts.”
Crestone will implement measures to mitigate impacts at its well sites, he said, including soundwalls, electric-powered drilling rigs, low-emission engines and low-odor mud during the drilling phase. Oil, gas and water will travel off-site by pipe, he said, “to reduce truck traffic during the production phase.”
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Dan Haley, the president and CEO of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, said the state’s 2019 oil and gas law was meant to “create the most environmentally protective rules in the country … without banning the production of this vital resource.”
“Arapahoe County, and others, have passed regulations that exceed the state’s already stringent protections,” he said, “and our members are meeting those high expectations and producing this resource cleaner and better than most anywhere in the world.”
Congressman focuses on Superfund site
But such assurances haven’t quieted concerns about the unique features at Lowry Ranch, a 26,500-acre sweep of prairie owned by the Colorado State Land Board.
The property encompasses the 480-acre Lowry Landfill, a Superfund site at the northeast corner of Quincy Avenue and Gun Club Road, where an estimated 138 million gallons of liquid industrial waste are buried. An underground plume of contaminated water has migrated several miles from what is considered one of the country’s most contaminated toxic waste sites.
Some of the proposed well pads’ proximity prompted U.S. Rep. Jason Crow to send a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on July 15. He asked whether it had studied the potential for extractive seismic activity at the landfill and how that might impact “the safety of the Aurora Reservoir Dam and the reservoir itself.”
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The Democratic congressman asked how the agency could “be certain the drilling will not cause fractures and instability that threaten the mitigation strategies EPA has in place at (the landfill).” He also inquired if the agency has considered expanding the boundaries of the Superfund site to include the underground plume.
Coolidge, from Civitas, said the company this year agreed not to drill underneath the Lowry Landfill.
“On claims around seismicity, there has been no reportable seismic activity caused by hydraulic fracturing in Colorado,” he wrote.
But Mike Foote, an environmental attorney representing Save the Aurora Reservoir — and a prime sponsor of SB19-181 when he was a state senator — said “drilling can cause earthquakes.”
The United States Geological Service says that while most induced earthquakes are not directly the result of fracking, they can be triggered by the “disposal of waste fluids that are a byproduct of oil production.”
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“You don’t want to cause earthquakes, and Crestone hasn’t studied or addressed the issue anywhere close to adequately enough to allow them to drill,” Foote said.
A “Save the Aurora Reservoir” sign sits in the lawn of a Southshore neighborhood home in Aurora on Thursday, July 25, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Drilling could begin next year
Matt Sura, an oil and gas attorney who represents local governments and conservation organizations, said the five-year-old law was a critical step in more effectively regulating the energy industry and giving local governments a bigger voice in the process. Sura is not involved in the Lowry Ranch proposal.
“Senate Bill 181 required that there be public hearings on locations (of wells and equipment) and allowed the public to speak to the decision-makers, rather than those decisions (being) made administratively,” he said. “That was a huge sea change.”
Where there is still room for improvement, Sura said, is in state regulators addressing the cumulative impacts of oil and gas development, specifically when it comes to air pollution. The ECMC will start hearings on rules for that in mid-September.
“I’m hopeful the commission is going to be willing to set limits on oil and gas development and drilling — and the amount of pollution that can be emitted from the oil and gas industry,” he said.
But those rules won’t be in place this week when the ECMC meets to consider the Lowry Ranch comprehensive area plan.
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The Front Range for years has been out of compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In 2022, the EPA designated the nine-county northern Front Range region — including metro Denver — as being in “severe nonattainment,” triggering more federal regulations to clean the air.
That frustrates Kamin, the Southshore resident who watches wildlife move through the neighborhood on their way to and from the rolling hills of Lowry Ranch to the east.
“We’ve been a nonattainment area for years and they want to add more pollution to the area,” she said. “It makes no sense.”
If Crestone’s plan receives the blessing of the ECMC this week, drilling could begin as early as 2025.
Denver Post reporter Judith Kohler contributed to this story
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Police are searching for a missing at-risk adult.
They said 20-year-old Brandon Hugney was last seen Saturday night, around 7 p.m., at the Walmart on Platte avenue.
They shared a picture of Hugney, describing him as a 6′ man last seen wearing black-framed glasses with red trim, a grey fleece, blue pajama pants and black and white slippers.
Police said he likely isn’t properly dressed for the weather and was last seen heading west behind Walmart.
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If you know where he is or see him, call police at (719) 444-7000.
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.
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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).
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Colorado makes its Big 12 debut on Dec. 30 with a home game against Iowa State.
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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
All-Colorado quarterback Gavin Ishmael, a senior at Frederick, poses for a portrait. (Courtesy of Jake 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.
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Zeke Andrews
All-Colorado selection Zeke Andrews of Ralston Valley poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Gavin Lockett of Pueblo West poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado running back Elijah Womack, a junior at Montrose, poses for a portrait. (Courtesy of Kimery Anstine)
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
All-Colorado selection James Basinger of Columbine poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Jaden Lawrence of Legend poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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.
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Jayden Fox
All-Colorado selection Jayden Fox of Cherry Creek poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
Loveland’s Zayne DeSouza, a senior tight end, poses for a portrait. (Courtesy of Allan Jeffries)
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
All-Colorado selection Camden Jensen of Heritage poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Tanner Terch of Heritage poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Andrew Smart of Arapahoe poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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.
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Marcus Mozer
All-Colorado selection Marcus Mozer of Fossil Ridge poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Sean Conway 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)
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
All-Colorado selection Jeremiah Hoffman of Cherry Creek poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Xay Neto of Grandview poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Soren Shinofield of Cherry Creek poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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.
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Aidan Martin
All-Colorado selection Aidan Martin of Northfield poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Jack Heath 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)
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
All-Colorado selection Cole Powell of Erie poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Kannon Smith of Valor Christian poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Jordan Rechel of Fairview poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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.
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Cash Spence
All-Colorado selection Cash Spence of Valor Christian poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Max Mervin of Ponderosa poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado wideout/returner Levi Hermsen, a senior at Fort Collins, poses for a portrait. (Courtesy of Robert Trubia)
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
All-Colorado selection Jack Blais 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)
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
All-Colorado selection Keegan Perea of Cherry Creek 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 | 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.
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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
All-Colorado selection John Niedringhaus of Legend poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection DJ Crowe of Denver East poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Jaxon Pyatt of Arvada West poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection CJ James of Thompson Valley poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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.
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Carson Hageman
All-Colorado selection Carson Hageman of Erie poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Landon Kalsbeck of Dakota Ridge poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Jace Filleman of Regis Jesuit poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Mikhail Benner of Broomfield poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Elvin Ampofo of EagleCrest poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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.
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Bennett Wilkes
All-Colorado selection Bennett Wilkes of Wheat Ridge poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado selection Aiden Knapke of Cherry Creek poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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
All-Colorado kicker/punter Rhett Armstrong, a senior at Palmer Ridge, poses for a portrait. (Courtesy of Skrastins Photography)
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
All-Colorado selection Jamie Steele head coach of Thompson Valley poses for a portrait at the Denver Post in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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’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
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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
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