BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Trenton Klein threw for one score and picked off a pass for another as the Union County High School football team defeated The Villages 28-0 in a May 12 spring football game in Lake Butler.
The Tigers got things rolling in a big way in the second quarter, in which they scored all of their points. Their offense averaged 12 yards per play in the quarter, with all three of its touchdowns covering at least 20 yards.
Klein’s pick six was off a 30-yard return.
“The second quarter, we just kind of took over,” Union Head Coach Andrew Thomas said. “I felt like we just kind of progressed to the point where we started wearing on them. Things started coming easier and easier for us on offense.
“That’s what you like to do in a game. When you play a good opponent, you’re not going to come out and just jump on them in the first quarter.”
If there was a negative, it was that the game never resumed after halftime due to the weather. Thomas said he felt bad for the younger players who put in the work and didn’t get a chance to get into the game.
“To put in three weeks of hard work, hoping for a chance to play, and then the weather not letting them — that was disappointing,” Thomas said.
The Buffalo went three-and-out on their first offensive series, while their second series consisted of two plays and a fumble, which was recovered by the Tigers.
It was one of two fumbles recovered by the Union defense, which created four turnovers in all.
“We flew around and made plays,” Thomas said, adding, “A lot of it was from just playing hard and getting after it.”
Following that first turnover, the Tigers drove inside the The Villages’ 30, with Cole Austin’s 16-yard run on a third-and-6 play resulting in a first down at the 29. The drive, however, would stall at the 25, with Union turning the ball over on downs.
Two plays later, the Buffalo fumbled again, with Jameson Lang recovering for the Tigers at their own 40.
Two runs by Thomas Williams netted 9 yards, while a 3-yard run by Austin picked up a first down past midfield. Three plays later, Union converted on fourth-and-6 when Nelson Tambling completed a 15-yard pass to Williams. Williams and Austin then had runs of 4 and 5 yards, respectively, before Austin broke through one tackle attempt at the line of scrimmage and bulled his way through other defenders downfield in scoring on a 20-yard run at the 8:31 mark of the second quarter. Klein, who alternated with Tambling at quarterback, had a successful run on the two-point conversion attempt for an 8-0 lead.
The Buffalo picked up two first downs on their ensuing possession, thanks to a penalty and a 10-yard pass play from Patrick Harding to Alvon Isaac. The drive ended when Connor Bresee sacked Harding for a 7-yard loss on fourth down, giving the Union offense the ball shy of midfield.
One play was all the Tigers needed to increase their lead, with Bobo Woodall breaking loose for a 48-yard touchdown run to give Union a 14-0 lead with 6:02 to play in the half. Klein’s pass attempt on the two-point conversion was incomplete.
Woodall finished with 70 yards on four carries. The Tigers rushed for 173 yards in all, with Williams gaining 50 yards on 10 carries and Austin gaining 43 on five carries.
“I thought we played really well on the offensive line,” Thomas said. “They blocked extremely well, especially in the run game.”
The Tigers had nine new starters on offense, with four of those playing on the line.
“Really, we looked as good (on the line) as we’ve looked in two years, honestly,” Thomas said.
A couple of runs had the Buffalo on the move on their next drive, with them gaining a first down at their own 49. Jimmy Cox then made a tackle for no gain before Brycen Boney intercepted a pass, setting the Union offense up at its own 41.
Woodall had a 14-yard run that set up a third-and-4 play after the Tigers had been penalized for holding. Two straight runs by Williams resulted in a first down at the visitors’ 45-yard line. Klein completed a 7-yard pass to Trejan Tyson. The two hooked up again on the next play, with Tyson hauling in a deep pass for a 38-yard touchdown with 1:29 remaining in the quarter. Tambling’s pass on the two-point conversion attempt was incomplete, leaving Union leading by a core of 20-0.
Three plays following the score, Union put its final points on the board with Klein picking off a pass at the Buffalo 30 and taking it back for a touchdown with 25 seconds on the clock. The Tigers were backed up 10 yards on the two-point try (after penalties for delay of game and illegal procedure), but Williams caught a short pass from Tambling and fought his way into the end zone for the 28-0 final.
Thomas said it was a good game overall, with players taking advantage of their time to shine.
“We have a few returning players, and we know what we can expect from them,” Thomas said, “but some new guys stepped up and played well in just getting an opportunity to play. It was good.”
Union finished with 235 yards on offense, with Klein completing 2 of 4 passes for 45 yards and Tambling completing 2 of 3 for 17 yards. Tyson was the leading receiver, with two catches for 45 yards.
The Villages had 108 yards and averaged 6 yards per rushing attempt. The deepest the Buffalo advanced into Tiger territory, though, was the 45-yard line.
Thomas said the defense struggled with some plays, but that’s to be expected in such games.
“In a spring game, we don’t know everything they’re doing, and they don’t know everything we’re doing,” Thomas said. “You’re not necessarily playing to a score. You’re trying to work on some stuff.”
