Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Soroco High School football team has the parts; now they need to be put together.

Whereas in previous weeks the offensive line struggled or sophomore quarterback Cody Miles didn't deliver the ball where he needed to, last week it was the receiving corps that didn't come through against West Grand.

Rams coach David Bruner knows it will take time for such a young team - Soroco's been suiting up 17 players, eight of whom are freshmen - to get the timing down in his offense, but said he feels the Rams (1-3 overall, 0-2 in league play) are as close to putting everything together as they have been all year. They play at 7 p.m. Friday at Paonia.

"We're progressing, but we're still dropping passes," Bruner said. "You get frustrated, but you just got to keep plugging away. We keep working on that in practice and eventually good things will happen. Once you see the timing go right, things will start to go right."

While Miles has taken his bumps already this season, Bruner said he's been impressed with the way the young quarterback has led the team.

Along with leading the helm on offense, Miles has led the team on defense, recording 15 tackles a game.

"He's doing great," Bruner said. "He's progressing really well. He's still young and doesn't make some reads that older kids will make, but that will come with time."

Paonia (2-2, 0-1) is a balanced team that runs multiple plays out of multiple sets. Paonia is led by running back Jordan Van Vleet and fullback Josh Burns. The two combined for 93 yards on 32 carries last week in a 6-3 loss to Hayden.

"They'll run the same plays out of seven or eight different formations," Bruner said. "Then they'll go play-action and that does a lot for them."

Although the Rams have suffered two blowout losses, Bruner said the team's spirits have remained upbeat all week.

"The kids are tough. A lot of times, we'll have five freshmen on the field, but the kids get out there and do what they can," Bruner said. "We'll have to have a quick start and get turnovers from Paonia to be successful."

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com