Mile High Salute prep-style

The Broncos will host their 21st annual salute to high school football at halftime of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Since 1995, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has insisted on recognizing high school football at his team’s final regularseason home game. It began with the Gold Helmet Award winner that year, Matt Rillos of Golden, at Mile High Stadium, then expanded to include representatives of the seven classification state champions as well as Broncos prep coaches of the week and year, a program instituted by the NFL.

Rich Bortner of Arvada, Mike D. Gabriel of Holy Family, Shane Ward of Gateway, Frank Ybarra of Horizon, Jeremy Mercer of Pueblo Central, Tom McCartney of Fairview, Doug Johnson of Longmont, Kerry Denison of Westminster, Mike Campbell of Arapahoe and Stacy Coryell of Wheat Ridge were coaches of the week in 2015. They will receive $1,000 for their programs through the NFL.

The coach of the year is Rod Sherman of Valor Christian. Over the past three seasons with Sherman in command, the Eagles have sandwiched Class 5A championships around a state runner-up showing. Sherman will receive $2,000 for the Eagles.

Classification state champions for 2015: 5A, Valor Christian; 4A, Windsor; 3A, Pueblo East; 2A, Bayfield; 1A, Buena Vista; 8-man, Sedgwick County; and 6-man, Eads.

The Denver Post will formally present its 65th Gold Helmet Award to Carlo Kemp of Fairview on Sunday. The state’s longest-running and most prestigious honor for high school players goes to the top senior football player, scholar and citizen. Kemp was an All-Colorado outside linebacker by The Denver Post; had a GPA that was nearly 4.1; is enrolled at Michigan, where coach Jim Harbaugh heavily pursued him; raised money to help fight cancer and served as a weekly mentor at his middle school.