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At the beginning of this season, when every team's record was 0-0, and every team's expectations were high, there were Hayden and Meeker.

The Cowboys were a favorite to fare well based on last season's success that ended in the playoffs. The Tigers were more of an unknown, having not won a league game in a year.

The two meet at 7:30 p.m. today in a football field in Meeker for a game that, though it's Oct. 8, may determine the Class A Western Slope League title. Hayden (5-0 overall, 3-0 in the league) has flourished in its one-game-at-a-time approach, but coach Shawn Baumgartner admits it's difficult to not think of league-title implications tonight.

"You can't help but look at it that way," he said. "We knew it would be a key game at the beginning of the season because it was Meeker. Between Rangely, Paonia and Meeker, we knew we would have to beat a couple of those teams."

The Tigers have defeated Rangely and Paonia, but Meeker (3-2, 3-0) is the only other unbeaten team left in the league. After tonight, one unbeaten team will be left.

"Going into the Meeker game this week, I don't think it matters if we are 3-0 or 0-3," Baumgartner said. "I think the kids will approach this the same way because it is Meeker. We haven't beaten them in such a long time. We are definitely gearing up for this game."

The Cowboys are a running team and make no secrets about it. The Tigers, on the other hand, don't have a preference this year. Hayden's offensive balance has made it a difficult team for opponents to plan for and an even tougher team to stop.

In last Friday's 61-12 win against Plateau Valley, the Tigers came out throwing first and running second. Baumgartner was pleased with Hayden's intensity against the Plateau Valley team; it would have been easy to look ahead to Meeker.

"We talked about it and emphasized it," Baumgartner said.

He also talked about the importance of playing well in a homecoming game before a home crowd. In that win, the stands and fencelines were crawling with people clad in orange and black.

The football team has excited the community to the point that Baumgartner has people congratulating him and the team when he's out and about.

"What's really special about being in a small town (is that) people will take a lot more pride in it," he said. "You represent the school, but you represent the town of Hayden."

And right now, the town couldn't be prouder.

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