craigdailypress.com

One of the least exciting and cliched quotes that a coach can give a sports writer is "Whoever executes the best will win the game."

It ranks up there with "We really stepped it up," "We brought our A-game" or "We gave 110 percent."

But as much as I want to avoid using it, execution really made the difference in Steamboat Springs' 22-12 victory over Moffat County.

The Sailors scored all 22 of their points in the first half. Nine of those points came after converting Bulldog turnovers. Another seven points came for the Sailors after Moffat County roughed the kicker and then argued to the referees, changing what would have been a Bulldog first down into 32-yard penalty and a Sailor score.

Simply said and painfully written, Steamboat "executed" in the first half and the Bulldogs didn't.

As Moffat County coach Kip Hafey said, "We don't turn over the ball and we're at least tied."

In the second half, Steamboat faltered in its execution and let the Bulldogs back into the game. On a fourth and long after three consecutive penalties, the Sailors faked a punt but were unable to convert. Then, when Moffat County running back Aaron Sanchez had already stepped out of bounds, he was hit after the play. A 15-yard personal foul helped the drive and the Bulldogs scored to make it 22-12 with 5:46 left.

A wishbone offense going into a stiff wind didn't help the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter and they ran out of time.

Going into the game, Moffat County expected to move the ball at will against the Sailor defense. But the Sailors' execution at the line -- forcing four fumbles, two of which they recovered -- gave the red and white a chance to win the game.

Steamboat coaches Mark Drake and Bob Harris commended their lines after the game for playing their best game of the year. They probably even used the word "execute" while awarding them the game ball.

While I probably can't use the term execute to describe a crowd, the Steamboat fans were the best supporters of the night. Though the Moffat County stands were packed early on in the game, the band and cheerleaders outnumbered the Moffat County crowd in the second half, but the red on the visitors' side never faded into their cars.

In a conference where the top four teams all have at least one loss, it really comes down to that one word that I've worn out in this column.

Ironically the Sailors will be rooting for their rivals next week to beat Palisade, which will give the Steamboat a Western Slope Conference title.