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Twenty years from now, high school football likely will seem insignificant to many members of the Steamboat Springs football team, but coach Aaron Finch and the coaching staff are trying to turn an unsuccessful five weeks into something positive for years to come.

Steamboat was prepared and focused before the Cortez game last Friday and outplayed the home team for one half, Finch said, but the Sailors weren't rewarded with a win, falling instead to 0-5 this fall.

Finch is drawing parallels between what the boys are encountering this season and what they may encounter decades from now.

"We talk about how life goes in phases and there's a time when everything goes your way, and there are times when nothing does," he said. "But you don't look back. We have no control over the first five games. They are done. What we do have control over is how we play now. We are playing for each game and for its sake."

And as the Sailors' attention shifts toward the final five weeks of the season -- a playoff bid is a long shot at this point -- they also can aspire to play well for each other.

"We can end up 4-4 in the league, and that's what we're trying to do," Finch said.

Today caps off homecoming week at Steamboat Springs High School, and the football team will attempt to end it in fashion by winning its first game of the season. Kickoff between Steamboat (0-5 overall, 0-4 in league play) and Battle Mountain (2-3, 0-3) is at 7 p.m. today at Gardner Field.

One look at the records causes a double-take. Several years ago, the Huskies' program was on life support, playing an independent schedule, trying to become competitive with any school. The Sailors, on the other hand, traditionally compete for playoff spots. At this point in the season, the Huskies have the wins.

Essentially, neither team has much to lose tonight. The Sailors continue to get everyone's best shot because it's always fun to knock off a champion. (Steamboat won the league title last year after Palisade was forced to forfeit its regular season games.) Battle Mountain is in search of its first league win in years.

The Huskies are improved from one season ago, behind running backs Adrian Martinez and Travis Sholl, and they are creating a winning atmosphere at the Minturn school, coach Pat Engle said. The Sailors, on the other hand, have shown potential to play with the state's best. Now, they just want to beat anybody.

"Looking at film, they are talented," Engle said of Steamboat. "We know they are a very, very good football team. It's their homecoming, and emotionally, they will be ready. They don't like to lose. You can see it in the way they play."

But Steamboat has walked a fine line between playing hard and playing out of control. Last week, the Sailors wasted a 189-yard effort from senior Brad Bonner and halted drives and extended the opponents' drives on penalties and missed assignments.

Although Steamboat has been victim to several phantom calls, in some people's opinions, the Sailors have been flagged for late hits and busy mouths, which cost them 15 yards a pop. Steamboat will have to hold onto the football and limit its penalties if it wants to win tonight.

"Our discipline as a football team has become a bit lax in the last couple games, and you've seen it in penalties," Finch said. "We're talking, not playing football."

And whether anyone on the Sailors team remembers much of this season years from now, they do have one month left to play together, and they have to decide if that counts for something.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208

or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com