4A Football: Erie Wins First State Title Since 1997

FORT COLLINS – Grit, courage and perseverance: three words that you can use to describe Blake Barnett’s performance in his final game for Erie High School.

Barnett had one of his best games of the season Saturday afternoon at Colorado State University’s Canvas Stadium. He led Erie in their 20-6 victory over Palmer Ridge High School in the Colorado High School Activities Association 4A championship game.

The big kicker: most of Barnett’s production came in the first half.

Late in the third quarter, he injured his ankle, and while he got it taped up, it was clear that when he was hopping on one leg 33 yards out of the endzone trying to catch up with his team after Braylon Toliver’s touchdown run, that he wasn’t even close to being 100%.

“I think it was just justice that it happened the way it did,” coach Jeff Giger said. “That he ended up blowing his ankle and he couldn’t quite go out and be him, but everybody else stepped up and did their part and then he’s cheering them on and counting on them, that’s this group.”

While Barnett does get a lot of the accolades and recognition for his two-way play, including: throwing for 151 yards, rushing for another 77 and adding in two touchdowns and intercepting a pass during his time on defense, the game is still about which 11 players can outplay the other side.

Regardless of his health, Barnett was going to be a part of those 11 guys.

“Our defense played their game,” Barnett said. “I don’t think there was anything that was going to stop me from keeping playing.”

Taking over when Barnett got hurt was Toliver. After Derek Hester found Jimmer Weir in the endzone, the Tigers were staring the dangers of a comeback right in the eyes with the game sitting at just 13-6 with 11 minutes left to play in the fourth quarter.

Barnett was so much of the Tigers’ offense in the first half that momentum was ready to jump ship when he went down. But Tolliver’s 66 yards on only eight carries in the second half kept the momentum with the black and orange.

“Hours of film, hours on the field, limitless,” Tolliver said. “We had this motto of unfinished business and we just knew what we had to do.”

While finally reaching the mountain top, there is no doubt that the journey to raising the trophy was a hard one.

Giger took over the coaching position in 2021. His first season at the helm his team reached the championship game and lost. In 2022, his team reached the semi-finals and lost. However, with Barnett in his senior season, the sun was starting to set and Barnett was ready to ride off into glory.

“You battle for so much and then you just finally do it,” Barnett said. “You can’t compete with anything else.”

Erie’s championship run wasn’t all glorious throughout all of their 14 games. In fact, their season started with a loss.

But starting their season off 0-1 against Vanguard High School in Ocala, Florida, more than 1,800 miles away from where it ended, is exactly what they needed.

“Yes, completely and it showed tonight,” Giger said. “So many guys going down and guys have to step in, and that’s what kind of happened early in the year.”

The game in Florida, the hours in the film room and on the field, the non-stop work. All for one final moment atop the mountain.

“It’s just so special to finally get it with my boys,” said Barnett, who was awarded the National Football League Most Outstanding Player award after the game. “We finally got to the top of the mountain top and we finished — I’m so blessed.”