The Ballard football team dropped its district opener Friday night, falling 22–3 on the road at North Polk.  The Comets struck early, scoring 15 points in the first quarter and adding another touchdown in the second to build a 22–3 halftime lead.  Neither team found the end zone in the second half as defenses tightened up.

Ballard's lone points came on a second-quarter field goal, but the Bombers were unable to capitalize on other opportunities despite moving the football effectively through the air.

Junior quarterback Bryce Miller had a strong night under center, completing 21 of 31 passes (67.7%) for 190 yards.  His favorite target was Blakely Carlson, who hauled in six receptions for 72 yards.  Grayson Hedrick added four catches for 35 yards, while Jack Plucar balanced the offense with nine carries for 61 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Ballard settled in after the early Comet surge, holding North Polk scoreless in the second half.  Dillon Shoen led the Bomber defense with 8.5 total tackles, while Tanner Ruby added 8 stops and Blake Brendeland finished with 7.  Sophomore Kanen DeYoung came up with an interception and two pass breakups to help slow the Comet passing game.

With the loss, Ballard moves to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in district play.  The Bombers will look to bounce back on October 3 when they travel to Des Moines North for a 7:00 PM kickoff.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography