Fossil Ridge wide receiver Marcus Mozer is the winner of the 2024 Denver Post Gold Helmet Award, edging out six other worthy senior finalists. Here's a look at each of them:
School: Palmer Ridge
On the field: Rated one of the top 15 kickers in the nation by 247Sports, Armstrong is Baylor-bound after breaking the CHSAA record for total career points by a kicker (279). The 6-foot-6, 200-pound senior didn't miss one PAT this fall, had 69 touchbacks on 77 kickoffs and drilled a 62-yard field goal. After the Bears lost their quarterback to injury, Armstrong started in the state quarterfinals and threw for 215 yards against eventual Class 4A champion Broomfield.
Off the field: On top of carrying a 4.048 grade-point average, Armstrong is heavily involved in school leadership as student council vice president and a member of the Principal Advisory Council. A Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle leader, Armstrong has participated in Crossfire Ministries' Thanksgiving turkey drive, coached youth football and did mission trips to Mexico with Aleluya Ministries of Hope. In addition, he's a PRTV sports anchor.
School: Basalt
On the field: The heart and soul of the Longhorns' run to the Class 2A semifinals, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Daniel rarely left the field. On offense, he racked up 1,624 total yards (1,390 rushing, 234 receiving) and 20 touchdowns to post his second consecutive 1,000-yard season at running back. And on defense, he compiled a team-high 142 tackles with two forced fumbles and an interception as the leader of a unit that allowed just 12.6 points per game.
Off the field: In the classroom, Daniel carries a 4.195 grade-point average and is an active member of the school's student leadership council. For a school project, he restored the faded "B" on the hillside behind Basalt High School. He also works in construction and collaborated with the Basalt Town Council to design a dedicated youth space in a new development in town.
School: Aspen
On the field: Committed to play for Brown in the Ivy League, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Hurd was a three-year starter at tight end for the Skiers, hauling in 91 passes for 1,410 yards and 23 touchdowns over 27 games. After leading all tight ends in the state in receiving yards as a junior (803), Hurd was asked to become more of a blocking tight end as a senior to suit the Skiers run-based attack and he responded by helping pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher.
Off the field: A straight-A student with a 4.66 grade-point average, Hurd scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. He recently volunteered as an intern for the Aspen Global Change Institute and has held volunteer and leadership positions for the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), the Independence Pass Foundation and the Roaring Fork Conservancy. In addition, he was instrumental in fundraising for a new weight room at the high school.
School: Ponderosa
On the field: A jack of all trades who spent time at wide receiver, quarterback, returner and defensive back, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Mervin was a four-year starter and two-time team captain for the Mustangs. As a senior, he had 50 receptions for 642 yards and six touchdowns on offense, added 13 tackles and three interceptions on defense and scored touchdowns on both a kickoff return and an interception return. For his career, he scored 35 total touchdowns, compiled 3,525 total yards of offense, caught 169 passes and had five interceptions.
Off the field: Mervin carries a 3.6 grade-point average in the classroom, has worked all of Ponderosa's summer youth camps, has served as a referee for 7-on-7 games in the Arapahoe Youth League and is a regular at any youth-related event sponsored by the Ponderosa football program.
School: Mountain Vista
On the field: The South Dakota commit walks away from his prep career with nearly every CHSAA career passing record there is. In addition to throwing for more yards (11,911) than any quarterback in Colorado prep history, the 6-foot-5, 207-pound Modrzewski had the most touchdown passes (147) and completions (814). Modrzewski reached those benchmarks in the final year of a 46-game varsity career that saw him submit three 3,000-yard seasons and lead the Golden Eagles to back-to-back Class 5A quarterfinal appearances, capped by this season's 11-1 campaign.
Off the field: Modrzewski, who carries a 3.5 grade-point average, was the face of the Mountain Vista football program since his freshman season, giving speeches to youth teams in the community and volunteering to coach a youth flag football team of fourth and fifth graders.
School: Lutheran
On the field: The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Wald overcame a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis to become a three-year varsity contributor on both sides of the ball. Wald finished with 3,300 total yards (2,982 rushing, 318 receiving) and 38 TDs in his varsity career, capped by a 1,825-yard, 25-TD senior year that also included 22 tackles (6.0 for loss), an interception and a fumble recovery on defense.
Off the field: Ward carries a 4.6 grade-point average while also volunteering countless hours in the community. Starting in middle school, he "adopted" a park in Parker that he was responsible for maintaining through the summer. He later earned the distinction of Eagle Scout after producing roughly 280 comfort blankets for children at Children's Hospital Colorado. The project included developing a plan, raising money and getting volunteers to help make the blankets and deliver them. As part of National Junior Honors Society, he also organized a drive to provide hurricane relief in Louisiana.