3A-A football athlete of the year: Zac Blaha, TCA

The name Zac Blaha might not be familiar to many outside the Colorado Conference, but offensive coordinators throughout the league cringed every time they heard it this fall.

Check out a gallery of photos featuring Zac.

Blaha had a dominant season on a dominant defense, playing both linebacker and end for The Classical Academy.

The Titans finished 8-3 and reached the playoffs, largely because of a defense that allowed nine points per game. Blaha served as the cornerstone of that unit.

“He has grown into a dominant player that can change a game, and he became the go-to guy for our defense,” coach Nate Sassaman said.

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Blaha and his senior classmates have experienced peaks and valleys, including a 0-9 season as freshmen.

“In some of the earlier seasons, we didn’t have the senior leadership it took to win,” Blaha said. “But the legacy for me and this senior class is that we have now made TCA known for football.”

The Titans certainly announced their presence in Class 2A. And Blaha was no doubt a topic of conversation for opposing coaches.

“Teams had to game plan their offense around him,” Sassaman said. “We moved him to linebacker for the last three games of the season, and he single-handedly took over the Bennett game.”

That win in the season finale secured a playoff spot for the Titans. And while they lost in the first round a week later, it did nothing to detract from a stellar year by No. 40.

Blaha finished with 99 tackles, including nine sacks. He forced two fumbles, had an interception, scored on a safety and blocked a kick — a list that has drawn attention from Division I college football programs.

“I want to stay in state, and I have talked to CSU, CU and Air Force about going there next year,” said Blaha, who plans to become an engineer or pursue a career in the medical field.