The Waterloo High School football team battled back from an early deficit to briefly take a slim fourth quarter lead before ultimately falling on the road Friday night at Jerseyville, 33-28.

Jerseyville went ahead 14-0 in the first quarter and added an early second quarter field goal before William Gilbert scored on a one-yard run for the Bulldogs with nearly eight minutes remaining in the opening half.

Jerseyville added another field goal to take a 20-7 lead, but Waterloo running back Tyson Roedl’s 17-yard touchdown run made it a 20-14 game at halftime.

Roedl rushed 20 times for 144 yards on the night.

A long TD pass extended Jerseyville’s lead to 27-14 at 6:12 of the third quarter. Gilbert responded for Waterloo with an eight-yard TD run to make it a 27-21 contest entering the fourth quarter.

Waterloo took a 28-27 lead on a four-yard TD run by Tanner Fry in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

But Jerseyville scored on a seven-yard TD run with 5:47 remaining to regain the lead at 33-28.

Waterloo was unable to muster enough offense late and the Bulldogs dropped their fifth straight.

Jerseyville racked up 323 yards rushing on the night.

Waterloo quarterback Eric Brown was 8-for-11 passing for 106 yards.

The Bulldogs (1-5) will host Civic Memorial for their homecoming game next Friday. Civic Memorial is 4-2 on the season after falling to Highland on Friday.