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Does Friday actually exist? — a discussion

Chris Freud
KRISTIN ANDERSON |

Friday does not exist, but then again it does.

This is not just some philosophical discussion. Pay attention.

Battle Mountain soccer, there is no Friday. Eagle Valley and Battle Mountain football, Friday does exist.



Yep, we’re only about two weeks into full-fledged fall preps and we’ve got big games on tap, although Huskies soccer is only allowed to think about Thursday’s game at Glenwood Springs. For the next 24 hours or so, The Classical Academy does not exist.

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Big game Friday

OK, Battle Mountain at Eagle Valley football at Hot Stuff at 7 p.m, and the Huskies and Devils are both undefeated. (Yeah, it’s only after one week, but it hasn’t happened since I got here in 1997.)

Both teams made statements in Week 1. The Devils wore down Vista Peak, 41-21. Nice. When Eagle Valley football has good years, that double-wing and offensive line pound on opponents. This was a tight game at the half, and then Eagle Valley took over.

Promising sign: Luis Chavez put up some yards and found the end zone. The Devils cannot be Riley Rowles alone. The high-tier Slope teams can key on Rowles. (Remember Glenwood Springs last year? Everyone on the Demons’ D was looking for Rowles and knocked him out of the game.) Being multi-faceted will help.

It will be interesting to see how Vista Peak does this season. Eagle Valley, you are rooting for the Bisons now. The more they win, the more wild-card points the Devils get. Any win is a good win. This one could get better with age.

Meanwhile, Battle Mountain obliterated Middle Park. The Huskies needed a cupcake, and got one. (This wasn’t like a big-time college football team scheduling Northeastern Southwestern Middle State. When you have a 21-game losing streak, Middle Park is fine as an opponent.) I wouldn’t make any sweeping generalizations out of that game.

The smaller observations include that numbers are up, the Huskies have a bit more size and they have more speed. All of this is good. Does this mean Battle Mountain football beats Eagle Valley on Friday?

Nope.

No vetching, Huskies faithful. I’m not exactly going out on a limb here. The Devils have outscored the Huskies, 115-0, the past two years. It should be closer than 62-0 or 53-0 — yet another limb I stalk — but the Devils have the edge in numbers, size and experience.

That said, Battle Mountain should be competitive in the 2A Slope North.

Big game Friday, but no looking ahead

Just as Arnold Schwarzenegger bellowed “There is no bath room” in the movie “Kindergarten Cop,” I proclaim “There is no Friday” for Battle Mountain soccer. Yes, the No. 3-ranked Huskies host No. 2 TCA on Friday at 6 p.m. in a blockbuster early-season matchup.

You guys have to play Glenwood Springs tonight — at Glenwood Springs. Stubler Memorial Stadium is evil, people. It’s the place where Battle Mountain soccer gets jobbed, robbed and I can’t think about anything else that rhymes with those two words that works.

Yes, I am being a nattering nabob of negativity here. (Nabob rhymes with the above and ask coach David Cope about Spiro Agnew.) I don’t care, though I do get points for referring to Agnew and a Schwarzenegger movie in previewing a soccer game.

You’re playing on grass, bad grass. Everything will go against you, breaks and officiating. In fact, you’re already down, 1-0, on a bogus P.K.

No whining. Take care of business tonight.

In other news and notes …

• I am very impressed with Eagle Valley volleyball’s start. Leaving aside off-field events of the summer, the Devils are 3-1 against 5A competition so far this year. Wow. (And that one loss was a five-gamer, no less.)

There is a time to have soft opponents on the schedule, as we discussed earlier. Kudos to the Devils for going to Regis and playing with the big girls. It’s even better when you win.

In a related development, the Devils spikers have their home opener tonight at roughly 6:30 against Grand Valley. Be there.

• Eagle Valley softball beat Rifle, 24-22, on Tuesday for its first win of the season. Rifle scored seven in the first inning. Eagle Valley replied with 11 runs in the bottom half of the frame. And I thought games at Coors Field took a long time.

• Vail Christian football opened the year with the perfunctory thumping of Plateau Valley. If Mike Lange averages 77 yards per completion, I think the Saints are in good shape.

Next up is the conference opener at Longmont Christian. Warriors quarterback Luke Puchino threw the ball 31 times in Week 1 as Longmont Christian is using a hurry-up offense. Beating the hurry-up is simple, boys. Run the football to eat the clock and put Puchino on his back.

• Golf update: The Huskies were fifth up at Yampa Valley, while the Devils were seventh on Wednesday. Wyatt Dilling (92) led Battle Mountain, while Tanner Caldarola’s 86 topped Eagle Valley. All four schools hit Haymaker today.

• And don’t forget that you can catch both Huskies and Devils cross-country on Saturday up at Beaver Creek. It’s the Battle Mountain Invitational at 10 and 10:45 a.m. for varsity starts. Cheer on your local runners.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934, cfreud@vaildaily.com and @cfreud.


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