Steamboat football falls to Eagle Valley, 34-7

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Gypsum — Editor’s note: This story has been corrected from its original published version. Sailors wide receiver Penn Lukens scored Steamboat’s only touchdown.
In the first 45 seconds, Eagle Valley lost a fumble and gave up a touchdown to the Steamboat Sailors, then gave the Sailors a flogging the rest of the game as the Devils sailed to a 34-7 win.
Devils junior running back Cole Nielsen carried 27 times for 211 yards.
“We wanted to go right at them. We felt like our interior five could take their interior five,” said Eagle Valley coach John Ramunno.
Eagle Valley rolled up 379 yards rushing and 381 yards of offense.
Steamboat managed only 134 yards total offense as Eagle Valley tallied four sacks.
Eagle Valley took the opening kickoff and fumbled a handoff on their second play.
Steamboat recovered on the 25 and on the first play quarterback Christian Ramirez stepped to his right and tossed a lateral to running back Ben Custer. Custer rolled right and fired a strike to wide receiver Penn Lukens at the goal line.
Less than a minute into the game, after starting on defense, the Sailors led 7-0. It was pretty much the last good thing that would happen to them, though.
Eagle Valley’s defense opened the second half by throwing Steamboat for a nine yard loss on first down, a three yard loss on second and no gain on third, leaving the Sailors with fourth and eternity.
On fourth and seven, Steamboat’s Ramirez threw a dart over the middle and Nielsen, playing at free safety, picked it off with three minutes left.
Eagle Valley added one more when Nielsen strolled in from seven yards out for the 34-7 final.
Steamboat next plays at 7 p.m. Friday at Delta.

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