Craig Daily Press

The Moffat County High School football team entered Eagle Valley on Friday night looking to move to 3-2 in the league, and play homecoming spoiler for the second-consecutive week.

The task proved to be too much for the Bulldogs, as the Devils rolled to a 44-21 victory in front of a packed homecoming crowd at Hot Stuff Stadium.

“We just couldn’t get into any kind of rhythm,” MCHS coach Kip Hafey said. “You’ve got to hand it to the guys though, they never gave up and kept going all the way to the end.”

Unfortunately for the Bull­dogs, the end came much quicker than the clock on the scoreboard indicated.

The Devils (1-5 overall, 1-3 Western Slope League) scored 17 third-quarter points to balloon a 13-point halftime lead into a homecoming romp.

“This is hopefully a game we can build on,” Eagle Valley coach John Ramunno said. “I’ve always said the best week in football is after a win. So, we had five bad weeks coming into this game; now it’s time for a good one.”

Moffat County (2-4 overall, 2-3 WSL) came out firing from the opening kick.

The defense held the Devils to a three-and-out and the ensuing punt return by junior Jasen Kettle (15 carries, 127 yards) gave the visitors pristine field position at the 23-yard line of the Devils.

But, Moffat County shot it­­self in the foot — the first of three key turnovers — fumbling the ball on the 11-yard line.

Eagle Valley responded by driving the length of the field, scoring on a one-yard run by senior fullback John Crawford.

The momentum had shifted to the home team, and they responded.

Two more scores before the half had Moffat County in a 20-0 hole.

A hole that didn’t seem too deep to climb out of when considering both of the Bulldogs’ previous league wins were of the come-from-behind fashion.

Junior quarterback Matt Linsacum hooked up with Pablo Salcido for a 3-yard touchdown pass with no time on the clock, pulling the visitors within 13 at the break.

But the Bulldogs’ first possession of the second half turned out much like their first possession of the first half.

It ended in a turnover.

Linsacum botched a hand-off on Moffat County’s first play of the third quarter, which was plucked out of the air by Devils defensive lineman Zak Thrall for an interception.

Thrall just had been awarded homecoming king not 45 seconds earlier, in the same spot on the field.

“It’s my first pick ever,” he said emphatically. “I wanted to take it back for a touchdown, but, it didn’t quite happen. It’s OK, though; a win is much better than homecoming king.”

Trailing 44-7 midway through the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs picked up two scores on Linsacum sneaks to account for the final margin of victory.

The Bulldogs play their third consecutive homecoming game Friday — but this time it’s their own — as they take on Rawlins, Wyo., in Craig.

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793 or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com