Students rushed onto the turf in celebration of Steamboat Springs football’s homecoming victory Friday night, even as the local weather forecast called for a storm over Gardner Field.

The back-and-forth affair with the Aspen Skiers came down to the final seconds when the heroics of junior Luke Jordan stunned the Aspen faithful as he intercepted a pass near the pylon in the end zone.

Steamboat won the game 24-22 to improve its record to 4-0 and continue its undefeated season.

---

---

Jordan made a number of big plays throughout the game, including his pick-six on Aspen’s opening drive. 

“I saw that play on film a lot,” Jordan explained. “I saw them run it against another team they played and they got a pick on it, so I knew it was coming first drive. I jumped it and I had it.” 

---

---

With the game deadlocked at 14 heading into halftime, Scott Przymus, Steamboat’s head coach, said he focused on fixing missed-tackle issues. Offensively, he wanted his team to dictate pace-of-play, something the Sailors managed to do in the third quarter after a Cohen Vanderbosch touchdown. 

The back-and-forth contest continued into the fourth quarter. Aspen took a one-point lead after a touchdown and two-point conversion. Sophomore Eli Bever then regained the lead for the Sailors with a field goal to make it 24-22 with six minutes remaining. 

“We gave up probably 40 or 50 yards of penalties (in the fourth quarter),” Przymus said after the game. “There were bad snaps and fumbles that put us behind, but we were able to stay composed. I told the boys all week that this game was going to be a culmination of the last three — all the lessons we learned from (previous opponents) Coal Ridge, Craig and Middle Park.”

Steamboat nearly gave away the game late in the fourth quarter when a botched snap on a punt attempt led to a turnover on downs in Aspen territory. The Skiers offense took over and fired shots into the end zone but Jordan’s game-winning interception sealed the victory

“I was nervous as hell,” Jordan said. “I almost dropped it too, but I just held on. It means a lot, we haven’t been 4-0 in over 10 years so we just have to keep it going. I think we can get into the playoffs.”

Steamboat has not started a season 4-0 since 2009 — and that team made it to the state championship game. 

Przymus gave a ton of credit for Friday night’s victory to the students, families and community members who came to Gardner Field to cheer on the Sailors. After students stormed the field, Przymus gathered everyone in the middle of the turf and offered words of appreciation and advice to celebrate homecoming weekend safely and enjoyably. 

“That place was rocking, I’ve never seen it so packed,” Przymus said. “Traditionally we don’t win games like that, so being able to do that for the community is huge. We really care about our students and I wanted to take a moment inside that win, to have them be a part of it and also let them know that we as the school and coaching staff care about them and want them to make good decisions.”

The Sailors now will enjoy a bye week before traveling to Summit for a Sept. 27 game.

Final: Aspen 22, Steamboat Springs 24
A:   7 7 0 8
SS: 7 7 7 3