After pushing all the way into the semifinals of the 2024 CHSAA 3A state championship, the Roaring Fork Rams are back in the postseason and ready to make another deep push. 

The No. 16 Rams took the first of what will be many important steps to the promised land on their home pitch on Wednesday, beating the Rocky Mountain Prep SMART Ocelots 3-2 on Wednesday. 

The lead was held by the Rams from the 25 minute mark through the rest of the game, though late goals in both the first and second halves kept the game intense until the final horn sounded. 

Rams junior Cal Stone buried two goals including the game winning goal — a screamer into the top right corner during the second half. 

“It’s great to host a game to start the playoffs,” Stone said after the win. “Having all the fans here and feeling the support definitely changed the game for us.”

After Rams sophomore Alan Rodriguez broke the tie in the 25th minute, Stone followed up just seven minutes later and doubled the lead. The Ocelots cut the lead in half just five minutes later on a free kick. 

The second half followed a similar script, with Stone extending the lead before Rocky Mountain Prep scored late on a set play to keep everyone on their toes.

The Rams controlled the pace of play throughout, though head coach Nick Forbes said he saw the team get “a little complacent” after taking leads — something that hurt them at the end of both halves.

“We just had a huddle after the game, and one of my captains was talking about how we can’t give up down the stretch,” Forbes said. “I think we got a little complacent because we were up 3-1 and that was a really good team over there. When you’re playing teams as good as this and when you’re in the playoffs, all these teams can hurt you in just 10 seconds, so that was a good reminder that you have to play the full 80 minutes.”

The deja vu match between the two teams that faced off 364 days ago at Carbondale Middle School during the first round of the 2024 CHSAA 3A state playoffs was equally as tight and well played. The Rams won that matchup 1-0 in overtime, thanks again to the foot of Stone. 

Forbes explained that the previous experience against the Ocelots helped the boys gameplan. 

“I think the boys understood the style that they were going to play was a little bit different,” Forbes said. “It’s a little more technical, a little less of a team dynamic and more looking to put their good players in certain places to make them most effective. They were able to do that to us today, the two goals were really nice goals.”

The Rams will now travel to Lakewood to take on the No. 1 Colorado Academy Mustangs, who beat the No. 32 Rifle Bears 5-0 in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday. Roaring Fork, which unofficially topped the Mustangs in a preseason scrimmage, will look to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 CHSAA Class 3A state tournament. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday.

“We have an idea of who they’re going to be, and I think we’re going to be able to match them,” Forbes said. “They’re a structurally sound team, they play very organized and as a team, so I guess we will see when the ball hits the turf.”

Additional Garfield County scores

The No. 7 Coal Ridge Titans took down the No. 26 Holy Family Tigers 3-1 on Wednesday in New Castle. The Titans will host the No. 10 Atlas Preparatory School Gryphons at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

The No. 32 Rifle Bears fell to the No. 1 Colorado Academy Mustangs 5-0 on Wednesday.

The No. 24 Glenwood Springs Demons traveled on Thursday to face off against the No. 9 Niwot Mustangs in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament. That score was not available by Post Independent print deadline.