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Corte Tapia could be the state’s best defensive player. Statistics prove he is the top pass rusher.

With another season still to play, he is only one sack from becoming the state’s all-time leader.

“It’s a crazy thing to think about, just as a junior too,” said Tapia, who is 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds. “Why not have it in the biggest game of the year?”

That game would be the Class 4A championship game Saturday against No. 13-seeded Loveland at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

No doubt, a big reason No. 3-seeded Windsor is in the game is the play of Tapia for Class 4A’s best defense. But it was his surprise appearance on offense in last Saturday’s semifinal game that helped his team advance to the championship game.

Tapia hardly played offense all season, running three times for 12 yards in the last game of the regular season. But against undefeated and No. 2-seeded Longmont in the state semifinals, Tapia went in for the banged-up starting fullback, triggered the offense and helped his team take down the Trojans 12-6.

“Adams City was the first time I got the ball, and then we just waited as long as we could until we needed something to spark the offense, like in the Longmont game,” Tapia said.

The Wizards (12-1) are unleashing the beast, and the Indians (8-5) will face the ultimate test in the school’s first title game appearance since 2006.

But let’s clear the air first: The Indians are not underdogs. Don’t be fooled by that otherwise unlucky “13” sitting in front of the school’s name.

After snapping 4A king Pine Creek’s 37-game winning streak and ending the No. 1 Eagles’ chance to three-peat as state champions, Loveland has unmatched confidence. The Indians expected to be here.

But Loveland now has the challenge of trying to contain Tapia on both sides of the ball — an issue the Indians didn’t have to deal with when they lost 6-0 to Windsor during the regular season.

Tapia will get the chance to let his offensive skills shine on high school football’s biggest stage. But it’s his defense that puts him in the ranks of Colorado’s greatest.

Tapia has 38 sacks in his career. One more and he will surpass former Denver South defensive end Calais Campbell, who now plays in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals.

Tapia has 14½ sacks this season, along with 144 tackles with 25½ for loss. He is getting recruited by Colorado State and Wyoming, and also has received interest from Oregon, Nebraska, Colorado and Northern Colorado

Typically an inside linebacker, Tapia will probably play outside in the title game. In the previous meeting with Loveland, Tapia played the edge and sacked Indians quarterback Ayden Eberhardt four times for a loss of 26 yards.

Saturday, Tapia’s play on defense will be counted on for his team’s success, but he also will play an important role in Windsor’s triple-option attack offense.

Against Longmont, Tapia emerged as an offensive threat in the secont half, rotating with starting fullback James Shields, who is 5-8 and 172 pounds. Shields was dealing with injuries.

“Longmont has these three really good inside linebackers, around 180 or 195 pounds, and when they hit Jake, they stop him. But when they hit Corte, it was a different role,” Windsor coach Chris Jones said.

Tapia ended the game with a — the first TD in his career — and as Windsor’s leading rusher with 76 yards on seven carries.

“I went in as fullback two plays before halftime,” Tapia said. “Coach told me right at halftime I was going to go in on offense a little more to run this play that ended up working for us.”

Windsor already is averaging 310 yards rushing per game, and the team has saved its secret weapon for the playoffs.

“To go a full season at linebacker and fullback, he’d be pretty beat up,” Jones said of Tapia. “So we’ve only worked him at running back the last five weeks. But this week we look forward to using him a little more.”

Loveland will have its hands full trying to contain Tapia on Saturday.

If Tapia plays the game right, he breaks a state record in a championship game. If they all play it right, Windsor will have its fourth school football championship.

Morgan Dzakowic: 303-954-1275, mdzakowic@denverpost.com or @morgandzak

Corte Tapia’s sack-attack

Game plan

When the Wizards run

Windsor’s offense runs a triple-option attack and is averaging 310 yards rushing per game. Loveland’s defense has had a major resurgence in the postseason, creating turnovers en route to takedowns of the No. 4-, No. 5- and No. 1-seeded teams. Windsor is led by quarterback Brad Peeples, who has 1,295 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns. The Wizards have a secret weapon too: Corte Tapia at fullback.
Edge: Wizards

When the Indians run

Loveland also has a mobile quarterback: Ayden Eberhardt. He leads the team in yards rushing with 1,221 and has scored 13 touchdowns. But the Windsor defense is the king of Class 4A. The Wizards have allowed the fewest points all year and completely shut down Loveland’s star rushers when they met in the regular season. Indians running back Charles Dunkelman was held to 28 yards.
Edge: Wizards

When the Wizards pass

It would be a surprise to see Peeples attempt more than five passes Saturday. Windsor doesn’t throw the ball much. Peeples has thrown five touchdown passes and three interceptions. The Indians’ defense could take advantage of a rare Windsor passing play and create more turnovers that have helped so much in the playoffs.
Edge: Indians

When the Indians pass

Eberhardt can and will throw the ball, giving Loveland another weapon on offense. But the Wizards’ defense is led by Tapia, a junior linebacker. He is tied for the state sack record with former Denver South star Calais Campbell, who’s now playing in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals.
Edge: Wizards

Special teams

Windsor has missed both of its field-goal attempts this year and Loveland has made all three of its attempts. Saturday’s showdown may hinge on field goals. Windsor made a late addition to its team at kicker: soccer player Griffith Kull.
Edge: Even

Individual leaders

WINDSOR

Rushing — Brad Peeples, 222 carries, 1,295 yards, 19 TDs; Landon Schmidt, 75-834-10; Jake Shields, 118-722 -10

Passing — Brad Peeples, 14-of-35, 353 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs

Receiving — Landon Schmidt, 5 catches for 147 yards, 2 TDs; Brady Bowman, 4-115-2; Brandon Ramirez, 3-50-1

Tackles — Corte Tapia, 144; Zach Moser, 82; Storm Fox, 68; Josh Bloss, 68; Tony Carr, 61

Sacks — Corte Tapia, 14½; Storm Fox, 10

LOVELAND

Rushing — Ayden Eberhardt, 226 carries, 1,221 yards, 13 TDs; Charles Dunkelman, 187-1,055-16; Noah Pangrac, 57-178-1

Passing — Ayden Eberhardt, 116-of-199 for 1,635 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTs

Receiving — Calvin Kelley, 36 catches for 600 yards, 5 TDs; Aidan McQuade, 20-308-5; Ryan Svendsen 19-342-4

Tackles — Charles Dunkelman, 105; Kaden Morin, 87; Zach Swartwout, 85; Ryan Svendsen, 82

Team statistics

Game by game

WINDSOR (12-1)

at Roosevelt W, 25-12

at Broomfield W, 36-14

Fort Collins W, 30-6

at Greeley Central W, 50-0

Skyline 6W, 44-6

Greeley West*W, 21-7

at Longmont*L, 8-7

at Loveland*W, 6-0

Thompson Valley*W, 7-6

at Adams City*W, 47-6

Playoffs

Pueblo Centennial W, 42-0

Palmer Ridge W, 20-14, OT

at Longmont W, 12-6

LOVELAND (8-5)

at Denver South W, 36-18

Roosevelt L, 41-8

at Mountain View L, 38-28

Broomfield W, 35-14

at Fort Collins L, 41-25

at Longmont*L, 42-6

Thompson Valley W, 33-16

Windsor*L, 6-0

Adams City*W, 49-15

at Greeley West*W, 29-21

Playoffs

Vista Ridge W, 30-14

DurangoW, 49-21

Pine Creek W, 26-14

*league game