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Steamboat Springs ran out of time on its comeback effort Friday night against Eagle Valley.

After scoring to pull within 28-20 with 1:28 left in the game, the Sailors, out of timeouts, desperately needed a successful onside kick. But the Devils recovered on their 46-yard line, and all quarterback Justin Wood had to do was take a knee a couple of times to preserve the win for 2-0 Eagle Valley.

"It's the worst thing when there's nothing you can do and there's time left," senior Will Zimmerer said.

"It's horrible," senior Jeff Franks added. "You just want to hit him so bad."

Had Steamboat played with the same tenacity throughout Friday's 28-20 loss it might have been the team taking a knee on the 50-yard line late in the game.

"I'm disappointed in our toughness," Sailors coach Mark Drake said following the defeat. "We got outplayed."

On the lines and in the secondary was where Steamboat was hurt the most, Drake said. Injuries have kept key secondary members out of practice and have cost linemen playing time in games.

Eagle Valley took advantage of Steamboat's battered defense, particularly via the air and on running plays to the outside.

Wood completed 9-of-14 passes for 108 yards with no interceptions and two touchdowns. Speedy running back J.J. Akins contributed 47 yards on the ground, mostly on five- or six-yard gains to the outside. Akins was assisted by a host of sidekicks in the Devils' backfield.

The balance Eagle Valley displayed on offense was reminiscent of that shown by Steamboat a week ago in a 35-34 upset of Sierra.

That season-opening win may have given the Sailors a false sense of security heading into Friday night.

"We didn't bring our hearts," Franks said. "I think we were relying on ability from the last game."

Eagle Valley coach John Ramunno has been in charge of the football program for more than 20 years. A former Steamboat player, he likes to spread the field and create headaches for the opposition's defensive units much like the Sailors do under Drake.

One team executed better than the other Friday night, and it showed on the scoreboard, but the Sailors did make it interesting.

After surrendering 28 first-half points, Steamboat's defense came out and held Eagle Valley scoreless in the third quarter, but the Sailors offense was unable to sustain any drives and regain the momentum from two quick first-half scores.

Trailing 28-14 with less than three minutes remaining, and facing a fourth-and 13, Steamboat senior quarterback Joel Adams found junior wide receiver Chris Dombey over the middle for an 18-yard gain that moved the chains and stopped the clock.

Backed up again with 1:42 to go, Eagle Valley called a blitz, and Adams flung the ball down the left sideline toward a streaking Dombey, who slowed down just a bit, causing the Devils' Steve Evancho to plow into him for a 15-yard pass interference penalty.

On the next play, Adams found Franks over the middle for a 16-yard score the duo's second of the night.

Sophomore Tyler Fosdick's extra point attempt was no good, but it did not matter as the Sailors failed to recover the subsequent on-side kick.

Drake said the team will learn from the loss.

"In the second half we came back and fought hard," Drake said. "We just made too many mistakes in the first half. The thing we can't forget is that we have to be patient. Defeat is not a disease. It's temporary."

Steamboat, now 1-1, will quickly look to rebound against Berthoud next week.

"I think we'll bounce back fine," Zimmerer said. "It's a gut check, and now we'll have to see how we face it."

To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com