Colorado High School Football: Week 1 Standouts Up for Player of the Week

Several Colorado high school football players delivered standout performances in the opening week of the 2026 season. Nominees include Valor Christian's Jackson Coleman, who had 194 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and Fort Collins quarterback Jace Garcia, who threw for 359 yards and four scores. Fans can vote until Sunday, Sept. 6.

The Week 1 nominees span a wide geographic and positional range across Colorado, from Valor Christian's Jackson Coleman to Pueblo County's Brady Ware, who played through muscle spasms. Several athletes contributed on both sides of the ball — Palmer Ridge's Zak Crisler caught seven passes, made eight tackles, intercepted two passes, and converted all three PAT attempts. Banning Lewis Academy's Sam Early similarly filled the stat sheet on offense and defense.

The poll closes Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with the winner announced in next week's poll. Magnus Newman of Palmer Ridge won the previous week's voting. The article notes the polls are intended as a fun way for fans to support athletes, and large vote totals are expected and accepted.