The Gold Helmet Award has been presented annually by The Denver Post to the state’s top senior football player, scholar and citizen since 1951. Here the six finalists for this year’s honor, with the winner to be announced Sunday.
Candidates, listed in alphabetical order, were evaluated based on their on-field performance, their GPA and their community service. A committee of former Gold Helmet winners, Denver Post staffers and other Colorado high school sports media votes on the candidates from a pool of players nominated by coaches and athletic directors.
The winner gets recognized at Sunday’s Broncos game at Empower Field, plus the Gold Helmet trophy, an honorary banquet and a $1,000 scholarship.
Zeke Andrews, Ralston Valley QB
The Mustangs’ signal caller was the heart and soul of the Class 5A state finalist as Ralston Valley advanced to the first championship game in program history. The dual-threat QB threw for 2,869 yards with 26 TDs to three interceptions and a 133.5 rating, while also rushing for 811 yards and 16 TDs. He set the program’s record for career all-purpose yards with 6,929. He has a 4.4 GPA and serves in the Ralston Valley student government, coaches youth flag football and is on two school committees.
Kellen Behrendsen, Dakota Ridge QB
Behrendsen led the Eagles to their first title, and earned the Class 4A championship MVP honors after throwing for 289 yards on 21 of 24 passing with five TDs in a 38-14 win over Palmer Ridge. On the season, he threw for 3,393 yards with 43 TDs to three interceptions and a 154.1 rating for undefeated Dakota Ridge. He has a 4.22 GPA and has accumulated over 100 hours of community service, including time at cancer treatment centers, field day events at elementary schools and youth coaching.
Tanner Gray, Wellington QB/DE
Wellington’s Mr. Do-Everything keyed the Eagles to a dominant 13-0 season and the program’s first title, the Class 2A championship. Gray, a Nevada signee, threw for 729 yards, rushed for 727 yards, and accounted for 16 touchdowns. He also had 63 tackles (24 for loss) and nine sacks as a game-wrecker on defense. He has a 3.6 GPA and rescued horses during the Alexander Mountain fire, helped fundraise for individuals battling terminal illnesses, and worked with elementary schoolers.
Landon Kalsbeck, Dakota Ridge RB/LB
A two-way force, Kalsbeck was the other main reason besides Behrendsen for Dakota Ridge’s dominant season. The Washington State signee set a bruising tone in the backfield, where he ran for 1,035 yards with 15 TDs and averaged an eye-popping 9.3 yards per carry. He also had 8 receiving TDs. And on defense, he racked up 111 tackles (18 for loss) with seven sacks. He has a 3.75 GPA and serves as a mentor to young athletes as well as participates in the Down Syndrome Walk.
Elian Oliva, Northfield LB/S
The Nighthawks’ star propelled the program to the Class 4A playoffs as one of the most dynamic defenders in all of Colorado. Oliva, an Air Force commit, had 114 tackles, including 14 for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and a defensive TD. In his career, he had 250 tackles while bursting onto the scene over the past two seasons. He has a 5.02 weighted GPA, co-founded the UNICEF chapter at Northfield and served as a youth flag football coach and summer camp counselor.
Elijah Womack, Montrose RB
The dynamic tailback was the centerpiece of Montrose’s deep playoff runs the past two seasons. He led the state with 2,285 rushing yards in 2024, then followed that up this fall with 2,157 yards, second in the state. He racked up 10.2 yards per carry in ’25, with 33 rushing TDs and 11 games with at least 100 yards. Even when the other team knew he was getting the ball, he was near-impossible to stop. He has a 3.7 GPA, has helped lead Montrose’s youth football camp and reads to elementary students.
Others receiving votes
Arvada West LB Jaxon Pyatt; Kent Denver QB Yianni Balafas; Coronado QB Thomas Buckmiller; Valor Christian RB/S Channing Fox; Pueblo County DE Luca Tucci; Silver Creek QB Nolan Gaccetta.