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The Steamboat Springs High School football team has players that fit well in Arvada's football program, and vice versa.

"I think we match up very well," the Arvada Reds' first-year coach John Hilton said. "You can take some of our kids and put them on Steamboat and take some of Steamboat's kids and put them on ours, and it would be about the same."

Last year, six points was all that separated Steamboat from Arvada. The Reds came away with a 28-22 win, but it was Arvada's second game of the season. It was Steamboat's first, and it showed.

"They made some plays at the end to win the game," Sailors coach Aaron Finch said.

This year, both teams have a game under their belts, and Class 3A Steamboat is the only one that enters Saturday's game with a win after defeating Class 5A Aurora Central, 27-16.

Last week, Class 4A Arvada lost to Class 4A Grand Junction, 46-0.

"I think Arvada is much better than that score indicated," Finch said. "Their offense had some nice, long drives. They just couldn't get the ball in the end zone. The score doesn't do them justice at all."

The Sailors scouted the Reds' opening game, and Arvada had coaches and players in the stands at Aurora. Hilton left the game impressed by the Sailors.

"Defensively is where our worries are, because we have so many new guys," Hilton said. "That sophomore back they have is a concern. He ran the ball extremely well against Aurora Central. He is a big kid."

That sophomore is 6-foot, 202-pound Jay Hanley, who scored twice and approached the 100-yard rushing mark during his first varsity game. After watching film, Finch said the Sailors could have had even more success running the ball.

"We were close to breaking a lot more long runs," Finch said. "There were assignment issues you get early in the season, and we have young guys who haven't started before. We were getting positive yards and positive blocks but not picking up guys at the right time."

This week, Finch plans to see a 4-4 defense from Arvada and a Wing-T offense. The defense is a familiar sight for the Sailors, but the offense will be new. It's new for the Reds, as well, who are learning two systems under Hilton.

Hilton was the former offensive coordinator at Centaurus.

"I expect them to try and establish the run," Finch said. "Looking at our roster and film, athletically, we match up pretty well."

Kickoff is at noon Saturday at Gardner Field in Steamboat Springs.