Beavers have bad season

By Michael Harthorne

One year after going 5-3 and making the playoffs - the first Seattle team to accomplish that feat in four years - the Ballard High School football team is sitting at 0-6 with two games remaining and has not been competitive with another team this season.

The Beavers have been outscored by their opponents 239-45 and have lost by an average of more than 32 points per game.

Ballard consistently puts itself in holes this season that it can't dig itself out of. The team has allowed opponents to score 114 unanswered first quarter points, and the majority of Ballard's scoring (26 points) has come in the final quarter with the game's outcome already decided.

First-year Ballard coach John Bowers said he takes some of the blame for the team's performance. He had to spend too much time figuring out how to coach high school students - he spent last season as an assistant coach at Western Washington University - and how to coach these Ballard students specifically.

Bowers said one of the main problems this season has been the ineffective offensive and defensive lines. The offensive line has trouble moving opponents' defensive lines and opponents' offensive lines are overpowering Ballard's defensive line, he said.

The Beavers have no players in the top 10 for passing, rushing or receiving in KingCo 4A.

Despite the lack of success, Bowers said the team's attitude and effort have been great all season.

"We had a great week of practice (leading up to Ballard's Oct. 10 game)," he said. "You couldn't tell what our record was at practice."

Ballard's performance can also be explained in part by the team's schedule.

Out of eight games this season, the Beavers will have only played one team with a losing record, a loss on Oct. 10 to the previously winless Lake Washington. Ballard's first five opponents have a combined record of 23-7, including 6-0 Skyline.

The next two weeks won't get any easier for the Beavers. They face 4-2 Roosevelt and 5-1 Woodinville to close out the season.

Bowers acknowledged the team has a tough schedule but said that is what they want because it motivates the team to work to get to that level.

Friday's game against Lake Washington was arguably Ballard's best chance to get a win this season. The Kangaroos, like Ballard, were 0-5 and had been outscored by opponents by 169 points this season.

And while Ballard's defense played well for the majority of the game - even stopping Lake Washington on downs when they had first and goal from Ballard's 2-yard line - the offense could not capitalize on excellent field position, and sophomore quarterback Dominique Downey threw three costly interceptions.

With two tough games closing out a tough season, it remains to be seen if the Beavers can muster anything positive to finish out the year.

"Right now, we're not a good football team," Bowers said. "But, we're trying to be one."

Michael Harthorne may be reached at 783.1244 or michaelh@robinsonnews.com