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Soroco battles toughest foe yet

Dave Shively

— Grand Valley and Soroco field two very different football teams.

Grand Valley, currently the state’s No. 4-ranked Class 1A team (7-0 overall, 5-0 in Western Slope League) can seal a league title with a win tonight in Oak Creek.

Soroco (2-5 overall, 0-4 in league) still is looking for its first league victory of the season.



Grand Valley’s booming enrollment will dictate its move to Class 2A next season, while Soroco is considering making the move down to Class 1A eight-man football.

Numbers will certainly be an issue tonight.



Soroco coach David Bruner said Grand Valley plans to bring a full squad of nearly 50 players; the Rams had only four substitutions in its last league game at Hayden.

But Bruner has seen improvements from his team on and off the field.

For one, Soroco returns a few key players who were out due to injury, including running back/defensive back Alex Estes and offensive/defensive lineman Gage Achtner.

Soroco also made strides last week in a home victory against Eagle Valley’s junior varsity team.

“We started doing things better in terms of our passing routes and our timing,” Bruner said. “Our defensive line’s been picking up the blitzes a lot better too and giving (quarterback Cody Miles) plenty of time to throw the ball.”

The Soroco defense will have its work cut out for it in stopping Grand Valley’s athletic offensive line and speedy back Colton Cowan, who leads all Class 1A rushers with 1,024 total yards.

Always the optimist, Bruner thinks field conditions could be an advantage for the Rams.

“It’s going to be sloppy, and I don’t think that bothers us much – there was 3 inches of snow (Wednesday) at practice, and our guys just didn’t want to come in,” Bruner said. “The main thing is for us to go out and compete and move the ball offensively. We’re going to go out with our best effort, try a few looks and maybe they’ll fumble the ball.”

With the weather in their favor and coming off a game in which they forced five turnovers, the Rams will look to shock Grand Valley beginning with today’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Inside the Soroco gymnasium, the Grand Valley and Soroco volleyball teams play matches starting at 6 p.m.


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