The Beavers lost a hard-fought game on Thursday at Memorial Field, falling to Roosevelt 28 to 19. The game was neck-and-neck, with Ballard holding the lead going into the fourth quarter, but Roosevelt scored two unanswered touchdowns to win it.

The game started out with a bang, as Jesse Scott hit Nate Rauda for a 60-yard touchdown on the very first play of the drive. Rauda, who had a big game, finished with three touchdowns and 160 yard on four catches. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the score was 7 all, with the Beavers driving.

The first play of the second quarter was another Ballard touchdown, as Johnny Verduin connected with Rauda for a 30-yard score to give the Beavers a 13-7 lead. The Roughriders would answer right back with a 7-yard touchdown run to go on top 14-13.

The Beavers started driving in the third quarter, following a defensive stand that forced a Roosevelt punt. After a big third down conversion, Verduin hit Rauda on a 15-yard pass for his third touchdown of the night to put the Beavers up 19-14.

With the lead going into the fourth quarter, Ballard’s defense was playing well. But after forcing the Roughriders into a fourth-and-two situation, they gave up a huge 30-yard run that put Roosevelt on the 1-yard line, where they eventually punched it in. After another Roosevelt score, the Beavers were down 28-19. There was a flicker of hope when Rauda caught a 50-yard pass to put the Beavers on the Roughrider 19-yard line, but they failed to convert on fourth down.

It was a tough loss, but the Beavers played well. Their next game is Friday, October 21 at Pop Keeney Field, where they will take on the Bothell Cougars.