Beaver Football Comes Back With Big Win on the Road

By Bucky Beaver

After opening the season 0-2 in two lopsided defeats the Ballard High School football team bounced back with a tough win on the road last Saturday night.  The Beavers traveled to Burien to play head coach Joey Thomas’s alma mater the Kennedy Lancers in the Lancers’ homecoming game.  The Lancers who opened the season ranked 8^th in state started off the game by converting a Ballard turnover into 7 early points.  Ballard answered on the next play when senior Dana Williams took the kickoff and returned it 99 yards for a Beaver score.  The Lancers then missed a field goal in their next possession turning the ball over to the Beavers.

On the first play from scrimmage, junior Jacob Ta’ase connected on an 80 yard touchdown pass to senior Siddique Newkirk.  Ballard went up 21-7 when junior Shea Carroll ran for a 10 yard touchdown following an interception by senior Max Marshall.  Kennedy recovered the second half kickoff and scored to cut the score to 21-14.  Ballard turned the ball over on downs their next possession and Kennedy took the ball and started driving.  Williams stepped up again stopping their drive with a 62 yard interception returned for a touchdown.  Ballard held on to win 28-21 for their first win of the season.

Williams, who had a career night rushing for 53 yards, receiving 10 yards, and making 6 tackles in addition to his two scores was named the Seattle Times Star of the Week for his effort.  Quarterback Ta’ase threw for 160 yards and one touchdown.  Carroll rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries with his one touchdown.  Senior John DeGarmo contributed with three receptions for 26 yards.  The defense was led by the dynamic linebacker duo of senior Elliot Brockl (13 tackles) and junior Fua Ta’ase (17 tackles).

The Beavers try to advance to 2-2 on the season playing cross-town rival Garfield Friday night at 7:45 pm at Memorial Stadium.  Ballard is hoping to spoil two homecoming games in a row.