Despite playing what their coach called some of their best football of the season, the Patterson Ravens varsity youth football team dropped a close game to the rival Central Saints, 42-30, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Patterson Community Stadium.

“This was a heartbreaking loss for us,” Ravens coach Keith Parker said. “Still, every week we are getting better.

“I’m real proud of the way we played on Saturday.”

The Ravens (3-3) held a 30-28 lead going into the third quarter.

Brandon Williams led the Ravens’ charge, racking up more than 200 total yards while throwing a touchdown pass, running in a score and catching another.

Teammate Jonathan Perez threw for more than 200 yards and a touchdown. Avion Warnsley added 130 yards on the ground.

“We definitely played with them for most of the game,” Parker said. “We just wore out in the fourth quarter.”

Central, meanwhile, gained momentum down the stretch. The Saints strung together two touchdown drives to eventually overtake Patterson.

The Ravens had the ball twice inside the Saints’ 5-yard line in the second half but turned the ball over on downs both times.

“In the end, there was nothing for us to hang our heads about,” Parker said. “Our kids all played a great game.”

The junior varsity Ravens rode a big game from Damian Paulo to victory, defeating Central, 19-14.

Paulo’s day included a 62-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter and a 57-yard touchdown catch in the third.

“This was a real breakout game for (Paulo),” Ravens coach Read Weinzheimer said. “He’s progressed over the course of the season into a really good football player.”

Despite leaping out to a 14-0 lead, the Ravens (5-1) needed to rely on their defense late in the game.

Central rallied for a pair of scores, but the Ravens’ defense held its ground when it mattered most, posting three goal-line stands to keep the Saints out of the end zone.

“This was a big win for this team,” Weinzheimer said. “We are going to use this as motivation for the remainder of the season.

“Right now, the kids are all thinking Super Bowl.”

• Results for the Patterson Redskins and the lower-level Ravens teams were not submitted by press time.