Ballers Lose 24-6 in Sloppy Game

SASKATOON (BP) -- The Ballers came onto the field today riding a 3 game win streak and facing one of the toughest teams in the Canadian AAA Western Conference in the Saskatoon Raiders. However the Raiders proved to be the better match beating the Ballers 24-6. The Ballers showed that they could play with the Raiders, but 4 turnovers and no production offensively caused the Ballers's loss.

"It was a hard fought game and we just beat ourselves," Kicker Troy Westwood said who missed an XP and a 50.5 yd FG. "It really is difficult to win, because while playing the other team we were also beating ourselves with turnovers and bad plays. The Raiders do deserve a lot of credit though as they are an excellent team."

Westwood had a tough game and could not convert on any of his FG tries, in addition to his woes the Ballers also turned the ball over 4 times. QB Khari Jones was hounded with pressure throwing 3 INT's. In addition to 3 INT's the Ballers fumbled the ball 4 times, although Saskatoon only recovered 1 of those 4 fumbles.

"I think we just got to careless with our fundamentals," QB Khari Jones said who finished with 180 yds passing and a score. "We were so concerned with putting up points on the scoreboard and making big plays, that we forgot you have to do the little things right."

The little things were what the Ballers lacked, as well as big plays on the defensive side of the ball. The Ballers were unable to stop the Raiders's potent offensive attack and could not get stops at key times. In addition the Ballers as a team had 7 missed tackles and allowed WR Deacon Moss and QB Willie Beamon to shred the Ballers defense.

"The stops did not come and when they did we couldn't capitalize offensively," LB Sev Shepperd said. "They did not blow us out at all, I think we could have won this game but we just did not make the plays we needed to and could not get the stops on critical downs."

The Ballers offensively did not execute the gameplan they came out with which was to pound the ball and wear out the defense with the ground game. RB's Alex Casino and Dan Etheridge managed 42 yds on 20 carries combined and the Ballers as a team only managed 46 team rushing yards.

"Their defensive line is extremely stout and just would not budge," OT Fatty McMuffin said.
"The lanes were not there for the backs and we were just beat on the line of scrimmage. I think what we needed to do was play better as a team. I don't think it was the gameplan that hung us up, I think that was fine but the execution was obviously not there."

Next up the Ballers will try to rebound against the Mt. Oread Hawk Stars who come in at 9-3 and 4th place in the Canadian AAA Western Conference. A very formidable opponent, the Hawk Stars actually beat the Raiders earlier in the season. Their defense has not given up over 20 points the entire season and they have a very talented offense led by QB Bill Whittemore.

*Good game guys despite the loss. The game ball is going to OG Gin Rummey who had 3 pancakes. Let's try to win one next week guys!*