VALPARAISO, Ind. – Keonta Nixon's record-setting performance was not enough Saturday afternoon as Valparaiso outlast Roosevelt 31-23 in double overtime.

Nixon made his mark all over the field for the Lakers (0-2) as he rewrote the record book in two different ways. The junior's eight catches for 209 yards makes him the first receiver in program history to eclipse 200 yards receiving in a single game. A little less than half of his yards came on a 97-yard touchdown pass from Carson Budke for the longest play in program history.

It was a game of runs with the teams trading off 10-point quarters during regulation. Roosevelt jumped on the board first with a field goal midway through the opening quarter then with 1:29 left in the first, Budke connected with Alex Tran for a 17-yard score.

The Beacons tied the game with 10 second-quarter points then took the lead by adding 10 more points in the third quarter. Never backing down, Budke and Nixon's record-breaking play came with 10 minutes left in the game, then the Lakers forced a quick punt. Starting at its own 13-yard line, Roosevelt took nearly seven minutes off the clock before Mauricio Escudero made a 36-yard field goal with 13 seconds left to tie the game.

Roosevelt's ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, and Valparaiso went for the win by throwing the ball with one timeout remaining. However, Jarin Edwards intercepted the pass and the Lakers elected to take a knee to bring on overtime. Roosevelt got the ball first in the extra period and struggled to move the ball, ending the drive with a 44-yarder from Escudero.

Valparaiso also couldn't gain a first down and settled for the game-tying field goal. In the second overtime period, the Beacons scored a touchdown on their second longest rushing attempt of the day then converted on their two-point conversion. Budke was intercepted on fourth down on the Lakers' second possession as he finished 17 of 34 for 286 yards and the two touchdowns.

RECORD-BREAKER: The Lakers were in a tough spot with 10:21 left in the game after Valparaiso pinned Roosevelt at its own 6-yard line with a punt. To make matters worse, the Lakers were late returning to the huddle and were called for delay of game, pushing them back to the 3. Yet Budke stayed calm and executed a fake to Cyrus Zuell on first down then looked down the field. Nixon started on the right side of the formation and simply ran past his defender to catch Budke's pass at the 34-yard line. From there, it was a 66-yard sprint to the end zone for the longest play in program history.

RUNNING GAME IS ZUELL: Roosevelt officially averaged just 1.8 yards per rush in the game, but that total includes the four sacks, one kneel and a dropped snap. Cyrus Zuell received all 18 rushing carries in the game for the Lakers, and averaged 4.4 yards per carry in the loss. Zuell's best touch came in the opening quarter when he broke off a 38-yard carry on third down to set up Roosevelt's first field goal.

GOLDEN FOOT: It was also a historic day for Escudero, the junior kicker from San Diego, Calif. Escudero became the first kicker since the merger with Robert Morris University (Ill.) to make multiple field goals in the same game with his three successful kicks. He is the first kicker in nearly a decade to make at least three field goals for the program, and his 44-yarder in overtime was the first kick of 40-plus yards made since the spring 2021 season.

UP NEXT: Roosevelt stays on the road for the second of three straight games away from Morris Field when the Lakers travel to 4-0 Campbellsville next Saturday. It will be the first meeting between the Lakers and Tigers.