It takes a village to win a football championship, but there is no doubt a special high school athlete in the right situation can literally carry a team to victory from one game to the next. The smaller the rosters, the more likely the individual talents make a big difference.

With just one week remaining in the regular season for Colorado prep football (with the exception of Class 3A), here’s a look at 10 young men among the small-school classifications who are standing out in all three phases as their teams roll into the postseason.

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Eli Cornell, Elbert: He has 71 catches for 1,155 yards and 16 TDs, 200 yards more than any other wideout in 8-man and tops in the state regardless of classification.

Sam Cosner, Colorado Springs Christian: The senior’s kicking game is a weapon for the 6-2 Lions, as his eight field goals are the third-most in the state and his 47 points are second on the team.

Thomas Griffin Jr., Hanover: The senior has 1,883 total yards while his teammates have accounted for about 950 more combined. His 35 total TDs is second in the state regardless of classification.

Noah Howard, Florence: With 1,778 rushing yards, Howard leads 2A in the category by more than 400 yards as the 5-3 Huskies sit No. 12 in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index. The QB has accounted for 25 of the team’s 35 offensive TDs.

Drake Isaacson, Clear Creek: The Golddiggers are 8-0 and part of the reason is the defense’s ability to get to the opposing QB. Isaacson, a junior, has 11 sacks and 16 tackles for loss, which rank among the top totals in the state.

Colton Lucero, Pagosa Springs: The Pirates are on the playoff bubble but might be worse off, if not for the vision Lucero has shown this season. Among his 254 all-purpose yards per game are 444 total kick return yards and 174 total punt return yards — and he’s returned two kickoffs and a punt all the way for TDs. Also has an interception return TD.

Jadyn Martinez, Sierra Grande: The senior has a mind-boggling 16 interceptions this season, which is tied for third in the CHSAA record books for a single season. The Panthers are 8-1 No. 8 in the Index for 6-man.

Caleb Pierce, Buena Vista: A senior, Pierce is averaging 25.3 yards per catch to go along with 10 touchdowns for 1A’s top team.

Jack Widdifield, Forge Christian: The junior has 102 passing attempts without throwing a single interception. And, his 61.8% completion rate is tops in 1A.

Robert Wittke, Denver West: With just 403 receiving yards, Wittke is down the list in yardage state-wide, but he has 10 touchdowns through the air on just 18 receptions for the season. That TD count leads the team, whether rushing or receiving. Only one receiver in 2A has more TDs (Delta’s Deacon Shean has 11).