ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Roosevelt could not fully dig itself out of an early deficit in a 27-14 loss to Saginaw Valley State in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup at Morris Field.

The Cardinals received the opening kickoff and marched down the field for an early touchdown then added a second score early in the second quarter. However, the momentum began to turn in the Lakers' favor when the extra point was missed to the left, leaving Roosevelt (0-5, 0-2 GLIAC) in a 13-0 hole with plenty of time left.

After connecting on a 30-yard pass earlier in the game, Carson Budke and Keonta Nixon created yet another big play late in the first half. The senior quarterback lofted a third-down pass in Nixon's direction on single coverage, and the receiver made a beautiful one-handed grab then raced down the sideline for a 62-yard touchdown.

Saginaw Valley State scored right before the half to restore a two-score lead, but the Lakers' defense and special teams created some big moments in the second half. The Cardinals' first possession of the second half ended when Deven Jarvis popped the ball free and Carlos Conley scooped it up for a 12-yard return into Saginaw Valley State territory.

After a missed field goal for the Lakers, Roosevelt's defense forced a punt and Brandon Harvey came up the middle to get a hand on the kick. The ball rolled all the way back to the Cardinals' 28-yard line where Michael Bolds fell on the ball. Two plays later, Cyrus Zuell found an opening and ran for a 26-yard touchdown to bring the Lakers within a touchdown once again.

Yet, Saginaw Valley State returned the subsequent kickoff for a touchdown and the Lakers failed to convert on a fourth down deep in Cardinals' territory.

Nixon led the Lakers with his third 100-yard receiving game of the season with three catches for 105 yards and his score. Alex Tran also caught three passes for 26 yards and Norion Espadron caught four balls for 18 yards. Zuell ran 24 times for 93 yards, the most yards during his short stint with the Lakers.

On defense, Jordan Pippion led the Lakers with 10 tackles and Jacob Bellizzi added seven stops as well. Ladell Allen was credited with the only quarterback hurry for Roosevelt while four players were credited with pass breakups.

UP NEXT: Roosevelt returns to the road next Saturday at Northern Michigan for a noon kickoff against the Wildcats in the Superior Dome.