Oak Creek — Jace Logan obviously looks up to his older brother, and it has nothing to do with Eric Logan being a little bit taller. Jace, a freshman on the Soroco High School football team, sees Eric, a senior captain for the Rams, as just that — a leader who is always there to help out a teammate.

“If I’m having a little bit of trouble, he’ll step in and tell me what to do. And as a senior, I can rely on him,” Jace said. “We play games with each other out here in practice, and we both try our best. It pushes each other, so it’s always fun to be with him.”

Eric, a fullback and linebacker, is one of the most experienced players for Soroco. His combination of size and speed stands out on the field, and he’s probably one of the hardest hitters in all of 8-man football.

Jace, a running back and defensive back, has stepped in straight from the middle school ranks to become an immediate star for the Rams.

While he doesn’t yet have the size and strength of his brother, he is not lacking in speed. Although, Eric still believes he can hang with Jace in a foot race on most days.

“I think we are pretty close to the same (speed),” Eric said. “He’s kind of a little stud, for a freshman. Very talented, so it makes it easy that you know he’s going to do his job so you can do your job. And he just happens to be my brother, too, so it’s fun.”

Their talents are hardly confined to a football field, with both winning their respective divisions at the Colorado State High School Rodeo Association and Colorado Junior High Rodeo Association championships during the summer. It is believed they are the first brother duo to win in the same year.

The only time the two go in a different direction is during the winter, with Eric choosing to play basketball and Jace, wrestling. The boys, who live on their family ranch near Yampa, also have a younger brother, Kody, a seventh grader at Soroco Middle School.

Next up for Eric, Jace and the rest of the Rams is a date with Norwood (4-1), ranked No. 5 in the state, at 7 p.m. Friday in Oak Creek. It is the league opener for both teams.

Soroco, 1-3, is no stranger to elite competition. From the season opener at defending state champ Caliche (30-18 loss) and last week’s 55-18 loss to top-ranked Dayspring Christian, the Rams have been through the ringer.

And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I actually like the schedule, because in that preseason, when you can go play those No. 1 teams, it will definitely help you later on in the season,” Eric said. “We are going to be used to playing tough games. I don’t think Norwood is going to be any easier. I think they are just as tough of a team. We are just going to have to execute well.”

To reach Austin Colbert, call 970-871-4204, email acolbert@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @Austin_Colbert