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Steamboat Springs — Through 10 weeks of the season, the Steamboat Springs football team has seen power-running teams, balanced teams and teams that spread the ball out.

On Saturday, the defense will face its newest - and possibly toughest - challenge yet.

Coach Aaron Finch said his team will see a heavy dose of the option attack when Steamboat Springs (9-1) takes on Fort Lupton (6-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gardner Field in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

"Our defense has to learn how to play that kind of football," Finch said. "It's going to be a challenge. We have to adjust to the option at game speed."

Finch said a good portion of this week's practice has focused on stopping the Fort Lupton offensive attack. The Bluedevils, the No. 4 seed from the Tri-Valley, run a double-slot offense - behind senior quarterback Joel Mudd and 230-pound fullback Kale McShane - that's similar to the one the Air Force Academy runs. Finch said if his defense can learn to defend the option quickly, the Sailors should have success.

"It's getting that anticipation," Finch said. "If we can slow the option, then we can make it harder for them to score."

The Bluedevils are entering the playoffs for the first time since 1991. First-year head coach Bob Hudson said he has a hard-working group of players who have come together after a 1-3 start. Fort Lupton won five of its last six games to earn the last seed out of the Tri-Valley.

"The kids are playing well, they're excited and they believe," Hudson said. "We're going to play hard, play fast and play together. We have a great group that's really tight. Really, that's been the difference this season."

Finch said with a confident first-year head coach, and a team that improved throughout the year, Fort Lupton is a dangerous first round opponent.

"It sounds like a great team environment," Finch said. "That's always scary to take that on. That's the magical formula that can make a team tough to beat."

Offensively, the Sailors are coming off their best game of the season. Against Battle Mountain, Steamboat gained more than 500 yards of total offense, including 446 on the ground.

"They're a tough matchup," Hudson said of the Sailors offense. "This is a very good football team. We'll have to see if we can rise up to their level."

Hudson said he doesn't like to take the underdog role into any game, but said if the Bluedevils want to win, they'll have to play sound in all facets of the game and create their own breaks on defense.

"(Steamboat) has to turn the ball over. If they don't do that, they'll be tough to beat," Hudson said. "I think at the end of the day, we'll play hard, but I'm not sure if that's going to be enough.

"I've got a lot of respect for Steamboat. They're a good group, and they play hard. What you'll see in the end is two teams that are going to get after it."

- To reach Luke Graham, call 8871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com