BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Drew Simmons’ run on a two-point conversion attempt proved to be the difference as Union County defeated Bradford 16-14 in a battle of 4-1 junior varsity football teams on Oct. 2 in Starke.
It was the season’s final game for both teams. Union (5-1) won five in a row after opening the season with a loss to Trinity Catholic.
What proved to be the winning conversion attempt capped a drive that consumed nearly nine of the third quarter’s 10 minutes. Wyatt Elixson scored the touchdown that set up Simmons’ two-point run.
Bradford (4-2) couldn’t capitalize on its few second-half opportunities, gaining just 28 yards on three possessions and turning the ball over once.
The game opened with a nine-play, 60-yard Bradford scoring drive. Quarterback Koy Hartley connected with Justin Hall on a 21-yard pass to the Union 38, converting a third-and-9 play. Brian Cliffin had a 6-yard run to the 24 on a fourth-and-2 play. After two tackles for losses by the Tigers’ Simmons and Matthew Rogers, Hall caught another pass for a 27-yard touchdown to put the Tornadoes up 6-0. Union prevented Elijah Lawrence from reaching the end zone on the two-point play.
Bradford’s Hunter Cochran tackled Simmons for no gain on Union’s first offensive play. After a 7-yard run by Bryce Lawton, Simmons was again held to no gain, this time being tackled by Cliffin and Nate Raymond. Union went for it on fourth-and-3 from their own 49, with Simmons getting stopped for no gain by Domonic Bride and others.
The Tornadoes continued their strong defensive play the next time Union had the ball. After runs by Lawton set the Tigers up for third-and-4, Alex Crawford tackled Simmons for a 2-yard gain. On fourth-and-2, Lawton was stopped for no gain by Reese Wainwright.
Union’s offense had gained only 15 yards on two possessions, but the Tigers’ fortunes changed in a hurry, thanks to Lawton. The back took the handoff on the first play of his team’s third series and broke free for an 83-yard touchdown run with 3:42 remaining until
halftime. Elixson’s successful run on the two-point conversion put Union ahead 8-6.
It was the Tornadoes, though, who took a lead into halftime. An 18-yard kickoff return by Aldon Sanchez had Bradford starting a drive at the 50. A 7-yard run by Lawrence and an offsides penalty gave Bradford a first down at the Union 38. A personal foul-facemask penalty resulted in another first down at the 27. Bradford survived a scare when Union’s Bo Thomas almost picked off a pass. Hartley then threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Cason with 24 seconds left in the half. Cliffin’s successful run on the two-point conversion put the Tornadoes up 14-8.
The Tigers’ offense went to work chewing up the clock with a 13-play, 59-yard scoring drive.
At first, Union’s offense stumbled. Bradford’s McBride made a tackle for a 1-loss, followed by a procedure penalty. After the Tornadoes’ Parvielle Lee and Jaleal Mosley held Lawton to a 1-yard gain, the Tigers faced third-and-13. Quarterback Bryan Tyson was able to scramble for a 15-yard gain to keep the drive going.
Union picked up first downs on an Elixson run and a pass-interference penalty as the Tigers moved to the Bradford 20. On a third-and-8 play, Elixson bulled for 11 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 7. Elixson, who finished with 33 yards on eight carries, tied the game with a 5-yard touchdown run, with Simmons then adding the two-point play for what would prove to be the 16-14 final score.
Runs by Lawrence set up third-and-2 on Bradford’s first series of the second half. The Tornadoes, however, turned the ball over on downs when Lawrence was dropped for a 1-yard loss on third down and a fourth-down pass play fell incomplete.
The Tigers’ offense was able to flip the field, thanks to Lawton breaking loose for another long run. This one covered 38 yards and put Union at the Bradford 20-yard line.
Lawton led all rushers with 141 yards on 14 carries.
Union was unable to cash in on the red-zone opportunity, thanks to tackles by Bradford’s Lee and McBride. On fourth-and-14, Lawrence intercepted a pass in the end zone.
A 14-yard run by Jarrell Harris helped the Tornadoes pick up one first down, but the drive eventually stalled. An offsides penalty had Bradford needing only 5 yards to pick up another first down, but two run plays netted 0 yards, with Union’s Keegan Shuler making a tackle for a 1-yard loss. Two incomplete passes led to a turnover on downs.
Bradford got one final chance with 39 seconds remaining, but Union’s Tyson sealed the deal with an interception, which allowed the Tigers’ offense to take a kneel down to end the game.
The Tigers finished with 188 yards — all on the ground.
Bradford had 147 yards, with Hartley completing 6 of 14 passes for 82 yards. Hall caught two passes for 48 yards, while Cason had four catches for 34 yards.
Lawrence was the Tornadoes’ leading rusher with 37 yards on 12 carries.
