BY ANTONIO HENDERSON
Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
Returning to The Jungle after a tough, two-overtime loss by a field goal, the Union County High School football team got back on track with a dominating ground game in a 49-12 win over previously undefeated Class 1S P.K. Yonge on Sept. 15.
Union (2-1) rushed for 438 yards, with all seven touchdowns coming on the ground. The Tigers, who next host Orlando Christian Prep on Friday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m., got 100-plus-yard efforts from Drew Simmons and Bobo Woodall.
P.K. Yonge (2-1) drove down the field on its first possession, with Devin Johnson breaking for a 63-yard run to make the score 6-0. The Blue Wave’s conversion attempt failed.
The Tigers answered on their first possession. Quarterback Trenton Klein broke loose for a 15-yard gain and then threw a quick screen for a 10-yard gain. Woodall would run for a gain of 6 yards, followed by Klein dropping back and connecting with Gavin Jenkins for a 15-yard gain to make it first-and-goal.
Union then turned to its run game, with Toren Tyson taking the handoff in for a touchdown. Jonathan Edwards kicked the extra point to put the Tigers ahead 7-6.
The Tigers’ defense forced P.K. Yonge to go three-and-out on its next possession, setting the offense up for the chance to increase the lead.
Klein ran for a 30-yard gain and then threw a pass to a wide-open Ibn Williams for a 20-yard gain. Woodall broke loose for a 15-yard touchdown run, which, with Edwards’ PAT, made the score 14-6.
In the second quarter, Union had a miscommunication in the defensive secondary. Blue Wave quarterback Calvin Thomas capitalized, throwing a 70-yard touchdown pass to running back Devin Johnson, who was wide open. The score stood at 14-12 after the conversion attempt failed.
The Union offense went back to its bread and butter, handing the ball off to Woodall for a 20-yard run. Woodall, who rushed for 123 yards on nine carries, got the ball again, breaking free for a 40-yard gain to make it first-and-goal. Tyson then took it up the middle for his second touchdown. Edwards added the extra point for a 21-12 lead.
It was more of the same for the Tigers the next time they got the ball. Woodall followed up a 10-yard run with one of 24 yards, putting Union in the red zone. Klein then handed off to Dayquan Diston for a 5-yard gain. Diston received the handoff again on the next play, bursting his way up the middle and into the end zone. After Edwards’ kick, the Tigers held a 28-12 second-quarter lead.
P.K. Yonge’s Johnson had a 15-yard run to give the Blue Wave some momentum, but a deep pass by Thomas was picked off by Jenkins.
The Tigers went back to Woodall, who broke off a 15-yard run. Diston followed with a 6-yard run to set up a second-and-4 play. Then came freshman sensation Simmons, who carried the ball for a 13-yard gain.
Union then tried to go to the air, but the result was two incompletions. Klein then handed off to Woodall, who gained 5 yards to set up fourth-and-5. The Tigers left their offense on the field, with Klein, who rushed for 72 yards on five carries, calling his own number on a sneak that went for a 15-yard gain. The quarterback then had a wide-open Jenkins on what could’ve been a touchdown, but the Blue Wave’s Thomas, who also plays safety, was fast enough to break up the pass.
The Tigers would eventually settle for a 35-yard field-goal attempt, but it was no good.
Union cashed in on its next opportunity after its defense forced P.K. Yonge to go three-and-out. Klein and Simmons had runs of 4 and 5 yards before Simmons got loose for a 51-yard touchdown. Edwards added the PAT for a 35-12 lead with 10:27 remaining in the third quarter.
P.K. Yonge’s offense just couldn’t get it going, punting on another three-and-out series. The Union offense went back to its ground game, handing the ball off to Tyson for a 35-yard gain. Klein, who completed 4 of 7 passes for 69 yards, connected with Bryan Tyson for a 17-yard gain before Toren Tyson, who rushed for 52 yards on four carries, got another handoff for a 17-yard touchdown at the 7:27 mark of the third quarter. Edwards kicked the extra point for a 42-12 lead.
The Blue Wave tried to catch the Union defensive backs sleeping and get the offense going. Thomas tried to go deep, but his pass was picked off by the Tigers’ Deonte Jones, who took it back the distance for a touchdown. The score, though, was called back on a block in the
back.
Union had possession, though, and was able to add the final score of the night. Simmons, who had 159 yards on six carries, reversed field on a 55-yard touchdown run. Edwards then capped his 7-for-7 night by hitting the extra point.
P.K. Yonge’s final offensive series was another three-and-out.
The Tigers’ defense was led in tackles by Cole Austin, who had eight. Klein had seven tackles, while Jacob Jenkins had five.
Austin, Brycen Boney, Wyatt Elixson and Johnte Nichols each had a sack.
Union now prepares to face another undefeated team. Class 1M Orlando Christian Prep improved to 4-0 after a 32-14 win over Foundation Academy.
The Warriors went 6-5 last season in qualifying for the playoffs. One of their losses was by three points in overtime to eventual Class 1R state champ Hawthorne.
