Sailors sink Cowboys

MEEKER I The Barone Middle School football teams hit the field Saturday against a big passing attack by the Steamboat Springs Sailors. The seventh grade team fought hard, battling against an outstanding quarterback and tall receivers. They found a solid running game from Noah Merrilee as he found his way around the outside to score early in the game. Quarterback Logan Hughes was under a great deal of pressure all day but continued to get up and work hard after every play. The team found little rest as the majority of the players play both offense and defense for the Cowboys but their determination was obvious. They may have lost on the scoreboard but they never gave up.
The eighth graders were led by the strong running game of Casey Turner, dragging several defenders on his way to one touchdown and several first down plays. Hard hitting by several players including Hunter Garcia kept the game close and a pitch from quarterback Sheridan Harvey to Doke Mantle provided another touchdown for the Cowboys. The game was back and forth until Steamboat found an open receiver in the end zone for their third touchdown of the game. Outstanding defense by Tyler Elgen on a big fourth down got the ball back for the Cowboys late in the game, giving them a chance to win as they had a successful two-point conversion following a touchdown. The Cowboys fell short of the end zone but certainly played hard the entire game proving they can compete with the larger Steamboat team. They will head back to the practice field this week before taking on their next opponent Saturday. Coaches Darby Finley and Jason Browning will no doubt have the option offense tuned up and the defense ready to hit hard going into the second part of their season.