Week 4 – Offensive Players of the Week
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Week 4 of high school football in Colorado is in the books. Looking back, here were the three best performances with some new names and a name and a constant standout. Players of the Week Bryce Vaz Bryce Vaz 5'9"…
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Continue ReadingWeek 4 of high school football in Colorado is in the books. Looking back, here were the three best performances with some new names and a name and a constant standout.
Players of the Week
Bryce Vaz Bryce Vaz 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Legend | 2022 State CO , Legend Titans (RB)(Sr.)(11) – Vaz had himself quite a night in the Titans 34-7 win over the Mountain Vista Golden Eagles, rushing for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns on 23 carries, easily making him the most prolific rusher in the state from last week. When you go to the tape, you can see that Vaz is a highly explosive, one-cut runner with outstanding foot speed that allows him to separate against second and third-level defenders. Excellent lateral agility that allows him to find creases between blockers and break tackles against defenders in the open field. Reliable receiving option out of the backfield with adequate hands and solid route running that makes him a matchup problem for LBs. While small in stature (5’9, 180 lbs), he has a thick lower body and low center of gravity that makes him deceptively powerful at the point of contact. Willing and able to run between the tackles and gain tough, physical yards but operates best in space and on the edge. While Vaz does not appear to be a high-profile recruit, he certainly displays the requisite speed, athleticism, and production of a blue-chip prospect. He is definitely deserving of more attention in the recruiting world.
Bekkem Kritza Bekkem Kritza 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2025 CA , Fairview Knights (QB)(Fr.)(8) – Remarkably, this is the third week in a row that the freshman phenom has been the state’s top-performing passer. In the Knights 41-0 beat down of the Prairie View Thunderhawks last week, Kritza went 21 of 31 (68%) for 355 yards, 5 touchdowns, and a QBR of 145.8 with the touchdown passes and QBR being season highs. Looking at the film, you can see Kritza is a tall, long-armed QB with a quick release that has excellent ball placement on deep and intermediate throws. Strong armed passer that can hit every level of the field with little to no difficulty, and his arm strength also contributes to his ability to squeeze throws into tight windows. Intelligent QB with the ability to read the rotation of the coverage shell and identify the holes in zone coverage underneath. While not lightning in a bottle athletically, he has outstanding pocket presence and enough mobility to avoid the rush and buy himself time to find a receiver downfield. Good accuracy moving out of the pocket and throwing on the run/off-platform with varying arm angles to get the ball around defenders. I know last week I mentioned how incredible of an accomplishment it was to lead the state in passing two weeks in a row, as a freshman. To do it three weeks in a row? That’s a pretty rare type of talent. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kritza is the top player in the state by the time 2025 rolls around.
RJ Holliday, Riverdale Ridge Ravens (WR)(Sr.)(3) – Holliday had himself quite the night, despite the Ravens 34-20 loss to the Niwot Cougars. Holliday was a lethal weapon against the Cougars, as he posted 7 receptions for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns on the night. Turning on the tape, Holliday displays outstanding ability after the catch. Very elusive runner in space that makes him tough to tackle in the open field. Consistent hands in traffic and good lateral agility in tight spaces make him a reliable receiver out of the slot. Adequate top-end speed allows him to get past most second-level defenders and some third-level defenders if a bad angle is taken. Displays excellent tracking ability on deep and intermediate balls. Tough receiver that isn’t afraid of contact over the middle on short and intermediate routes. A versatile and well-rounded athlete that can play multiple positions at the high school level. Holliday isn’t a player that will be well-known in most recruiting circles, but he is absolutely a talented player worthy of respect. He will be another fun senior to follow this year.