FORT COLLINS — Derek Hester was a super sophomore: 2,345 yards passing with a 67.1 completion percentage and 25 touchdowns.
But to hear the Palmer Ridge quarterback tell it, he was lost.
“I didn’t know blocking schemes and I didn’t know coverages my sophomore year,” Hester said Tuesday. “I was just out there. I was a robot, pretty much. I just did what I was told. I mean, I didn’t have the freedom to make play calls or change things at the line. Even if I knew the play was going to get blown up — with a guy blitzing or whatever — I didn’t know how to change it.
“And my arm strength wasn’t there and I couldn’t throw nearly as far. I’ve grown a lot as a quarterback and a person since then. It’s night and day.”
Saturday, the senior has one final chance to illustrate how much he’s grown when the undefeated and top-ranked Bears (13-0) take on No. 2 Erie (12-1) in the Class 4A state championship game at Canvas Stadium on the Colorado State campus.
“Most of all, his maturity has improved, and that’s enabled him to take his game to another level,” said first-year Bears coach Zach Carlton. “His competitive drive to be great is super infectious. For our team, his leadership skills are essential.”
Palmer Ridge is chasing its first state title since its 2017-2019 three-peat at Class 3A. Erie is seeking just its second state football championship, its first since the Tigers won the 1997 Class-A title.
Erie is led by highly touted senior QB Blake Barnett, who’s committed to Kansas State and will finish up his astounding prep career. After playing in three games as a freshman, Barnett became a full-time starter as a sophomore and has passed for 6,921 yards and 82 TDs, while rushing for 3,145 yards and 61 TDs.
While Barnett has lived up to the hype that has shadowed him for three seasons, he still doesn’t have a championship ring. The Tigers suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to Chatfield in the 2021 Class 4A title game, and a goal-line fumble cost them the game in last year’s semifinals against eventual state champion Broomfield.
Bottom line: Saturday’s game matches up two of the best prep QBs in the state and both of them are capable of taking over a game.
“Watching them on film, I think they are very similar,” Erie coach Jeff Giger said. “It’s definitely going to be a test for us.”
Though Hester has not drawn nearly the attention or the accolades that Barnett has, Hester’s senior season has been sensational. He’s thrown for 1,484 yards with 21 touchdowns and only five interceptions, good for a quarterback rating of 129.1.
But it’s as a running threat where the QB has blossomed. As a sophomore, he carried the ball 47 times for 193 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. This season, he’s rushed for 822 yards (7.0) and scored 14 TDs.
“I think that I can pretty much make any play on the field,” Hester said. “I wouldn’t say I’m cocky but I’m a very confident person. Our guys are very talented and they put me in spots to make me look good, but I also make them look good.”
Palmer Ridge will test Erie with a balanced offense that features senior wide receiver James “Jimmer” Weir (45 receptions, 886 yards, 17 TDs) and junior running back Avier Elvira (844 yards, seven TDs).
Hester is still waiting to see if he gets any tempting offers to play college football.
“I really don’t know if I want to play college football or not, but if I do get the opportunity, I’ll talk it over with my parents and see if that is the best route for me,” he said. “For me, right now, I just love playing football and I love playing the game with my boys. We just want to put it all together on Saturday.”
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