Steamboat Springs — Soroco High School football coach Dick Dudas found some silver lining following the Rams’ 33-26 loss at Plateau Valley on Saturday. For one, Soroco suffered no major injuries; for another, it wasn’t a league game this time around.

Beyond than that, finding positives wasn’t easy for the first-year coach.

“We knew what to expect, we just did not execute,” Dudas said. “We gave away one touchdown and lost another one. We were just having trouble doing anything right.”

Soroco was exceptional in its first two games, a 30-18 loss to defending 8-man state champion Caliche, and a 48-12 win at home against Sanford. But Saturday’s loss to Plateau Valley was the first time this season Dudas felt underwhelmed by his team’s performance.

“We just laid a bomb. We turned the ball over five times,” Dudas said. “They all know that they didn’t play their best game at all. They didn’t give their best effort.”

The Rams were never really in the game, falling behind early by three scores and trailing 20-6 at halftime. Freshman Jace Logan broke free for a long touchdown run in the second half to start Soroco’s comeback, but the Rams never had a feasible chance to win. Their final score came as time expired.

Dudas said the team had trouble stopping Plateau Valley’s speedy quarterback and physical fullback.

“We’ve just got to quit making mistakes,” Dudas said. “Our athletes are good, but sometimes, they press a little hard. Usually when you are pressing, things don’t go the way you want them to.”

Soroco (1-2) will see Plateau Valley (1-1) again in the regular season when they meet Oct. 24 in Oak Creek. The second matchup will be a league game for both teams.

The Rams will have their next four games at home, beginning with powerhouse Dayspring Christian (2-0) on Sept. 18.

Hayden falls to Dayspring Christian

For a young team under a new coach, the early-season schedule is not being kind to the Hayden High School football team. The Tigers opened the season with a 54-0 loss at home to Merino and followed it with a 54-8 loss at Dayspring Christian — ranked by many as the top team in 8-man — Saturday in Greeley.

“I think we played better today, but when you play the No. 1 team in the state, you can’t make mistakes,” Hayden coach Ryan Wilkie said.

The second half was played with a running clock. Hayden had possession the entire third quarter and scored its only points early in the fourth quarter on a run by Christian Carson and a 2-point conversion by Michael Ferrier.

“I was proud of them that they didn’t quit,” Wilkie said. “The kids responded well to the adversity they were up against. They were able to start doing some things. Definitely still have a long ways to go, but I feel like we are improving.”

Hayden (0-2) will get a week off before playing Justice on Sept. 26 in Boulder.

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