High school sports weekend preview for Sept. 10 to 12
Steamboat volleyball
Steamboat Springs — 6:30 p.m. Thursday: Steamboat (4-1) at Moffat County (1-3)
5:30 p.m. Friday: Steamboat at Grand Junction Central (1-6)
After starting the season with a thud, the Sailors showed the team they hope to be last weekend by winning a tournament in Glenwood Springs. Now, the team hopes to carry that momentum into its regular season schedule.
Steamboat beat Moffat twice a year ago with a combined score of 6-1, and the Bulldogs aren’t off to a strong start to this season, losing three of four matches against Class 2A competition last weekend. Central also had a rough start and is 1-6, albeit in closer matches against much tougher competition.
The Sailors were lackluster in their season opener against Montrose, a 3-0 loss, and this weekend need to be more alert and aggressive than they were in that match. Against Central, they need to be playing at the top of their game, as well.
Steamboat football
7 p.m. Friday: Steamboat (0-1) at Aspen (2-0)
The Sailors showed a decided lack of offensive punch in their first game, a shutout loss to Moffat County, but they hope to start remedying that issue as they welcome back quarterback Zach Holm for Friday night’s game at Aspen.
The Skiers are off to a 2-0 start to the season and beat Grand Valley, 12-6, Friday. They’ve gotten it done on the ground where they’ve averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Aspen has been led by senior Nik Morgan’s 259 yards and four touchdowns.
Finding a way to get into the end zone will be priority No. 1 for the Sailors with stopping Morgan a close second.
Steamboat cross country
Friday: Steamboat at Liberty Bell Invitational in Littleton
The Steamboat girls team established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the first week of the season, besting many Front Range schools at a Littleton race. When the team returns to Littleton Friday, the team will have the chance to do that again.
The boys, meanwhile, will have another chance to shave time off their personal bests and to simply learn how to race, not as easy as it sounds when crowded into a start line with hundreds of competitors.
Steamboat boys soccer
4 p.m. Friday: Steamboat (2-1) at Palisade (1-1)
11 a.m. Saturday: Steamboat at Delta (0-3)
Neither Friday’s opponent, Palisade, nor Saturday’s, Delta, figured into the top half of the Western Slope League last season, but both played the Sailors close at home, so Steamboat needs to be ready to play this weekend.
It’s about two things for the Sailors: controlling the middle of the field, which they struggled with Tuesday in a 6-4 loss to Battle Mountain, and putting out a supreme effort, which it failed to do early against those Huskies.
Accomplish those two tasks and the Sailors could come home with two more league wins.
Soroco football
1 p.m. Saturday: Soroco (1-1) at Plateau Valley (0-1)
The Rams look to be on the rise after Friday’s decisive home win against Sanford, and they hope to keep things rolling with a trip Saturday to play at Plateau Valley.
They’ll have every opportunity to do that against the Cowboys, who haven’t won a game since 2013. Soroco won the matchup last year, 44-22.
To do so again, the Rams will need to keep their offense humming and diverse, as it was again Sanford. That will be easier if senior running back Storm Veilleux is able to return from an injury that sidelined him last week.
Hayden football
1 p.m. Saturday: Hayden (0-1) at Dayspring Christian in Greeley (1-0)
It was a rough start to the season for the Tigers on Saturday, and there’s not a great opportunity for things to improve this week, as Hayden travels to play at Dayspring Christian Academy, a state semifinalist last year.
The Eagles opened their season with a 64-6 win against Custer County.
It needs to be about progress for Hayden in a game like Saturday’s. Win small battles in tough games against teams like Dayspring, and the squad could be prepared to win big league battles later this season.
To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253, email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @JReich9

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