By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The Highline Pirates played with a lot of heart and still found losing the game against Ballard's Beavers almost a foregone conclusion, trailing, 28-6, at halftime, and losing, 45-12, after non-league, season-opening action at Highline Memorial on Friday night.

"This game was about effort," said Pirates head coach Asosa Sailiai. "We had great effort."

The Pirates played with heart and that was no more evident than the fourth quarter, which came after the Pirates first scored in the first quarter with Malik White doing the running of the ball and making it 7-6, Beavers.

"He's a first year player on varsity, only a sophomore," said Sailaia.
But, that initial Pirates touchdown score was met with this ending becoming known rather quickly thereafter, as Ballard made it 14-6 early in the second quarter and 21-6 with 4:42 left in the second quarter. And, continuing to turn the pages of disaster for the Pirates, the Beavers scored once more, with no time left on the clock as the PAT sailed through the uprights.

Early in the third quarter, the Beavers tacked on a field goal to make it 31-6. Then, after the Pirates went three downs before punting, the Beavers scored again to make it 38-6 with 7:04 left in the third quarter.

So, a lot of football left to be played still but the outcome was no longer in doubt of who would be starting the season 1-0. The book was closed on this game, as Ballard scored one more time in the third quarter, making it 45-12 with 1:08 left.

But, the ending way the Pirates did not just lay down to start the fourth quarter and quit is something that deserves mention.
Ballard was at the 21-yard line of the Pirates to begin the fourth quarter, starting with 12:00, and counting, to go in the game, and with 10:07 on the clock the Pirates' A.J. Sailiai recovered a fumble. So that put the ball in the Pirates' hands and they would keep it a long time as quarterback Kyle Kief orchestrated the offense. Now the suspense would be in if this is where the Pirates scored their final points of the game.

The Pirates would get five first down conversions in this possession, driving the ball forward for 21 plays, on an assortment of White runs, Nathan Gordan and Dean Kief catches mostly leading the way, getting from the foe's 21 to their own 12-yard line before, on fourth and 12, a three-yard gain was not enough to get a first down. That was the effort there.

The Pirates' second touchdown of the game came back in the third quarter with 2:46 left in it, making the score 38-12, with White running it in on third and goal from the five-yard line.

But, speaking of that 8:30 time of possession, 21-play effort, that action makes things make sense after listening to quarterback Kyle Kief speak after the game.

Asked if Kief expected better results, he answered, "Honestly, we gave it our all every down. I would have liked to have won but I liked how our team played every down."

And Kief wasn't done talking there, saying, "I liked how our linemen played, better than practice, so that's a plus."

And the team was low on players who were out for reasons of academics and not enough practices in. Sailiai mentioned that only 32 suited up and 64 are on the team.

"For being down on personnel, I think everyone played well, a lot of our starters were out," said Kief.

Kief said his own play was good out there, but not great.

"I gave it 110 percent, but I will admit that I was tired at the end," said Kief.

Coach Sailiai explained that things are going to get better for Highline in the future as one can expect with half the roster not playing football against Ballard.

"We got our lumps today, but I'm excited about the future. They will do things," said Sailiai.

So, the long drive, resulting in no touchdown, was something to build on or a stumbling block, in Sailiai's eyes .

"They were tired, mentally fatigued," said Sailiai. "They did a great job. I'm pleased. We grew as a team."

Highline goes to Nathan Hale this Friday for a 7 p.m. clash.