BY ANTONIO HENDERSON
Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
Union County High School’s football team is heading into the postseason off an easy 42-0 win over visiting Ambassadors Christian Academy on Nov. 3.
The Tigers (6-3) scored three first-quarter touchdowns and led 35-0 at halftime. They now prepare for a home playoff game when they host Hilliard (3-7) in a Region 3-1R quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Union’s offense began the game against Ambassadors at midfield, with Toren Tyson getting the call for a 6-yard run. After an incomplete pass, the Tigers went back to Tyson, who had a run of 14 yards for a first down. Quarterback Trenton Klein found Deonte Jones wide open on a curl route, with Jones shaking a couple of defenders for a 27-yard gain. Klein dropped back again and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Bobo Woodall. Jonathan Edwards, who had a successful extra point after every touchdown, added the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 10:37 to play in the first quarter.
The Stallions (1-9) couldn’t get anything going on their first possession, which began with a penalty for delay of game. Union’s Johnte Nichols came up with a tackle for a 7-yard loss, but the Stallions answered with a 10-yard run. Another penalty was followed by Connor Bresee making a tackle for a 6-yard loss. On third-and-14, Jimmy Cox made a tackle for no gain. A fumble on a bad snap was then recovered by the Tigers.
Union fumbled the ball right back, but Cox continued his strong play on defense. Cox made a tackle for a 7-yard loss and then recovered a fumble for a touchdown with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter.
The Ambassadors offense had another fumble, which resulted in Union’s Erich Seager making a tackle for a 21-yard loss. A second fumble on the drive and an incomplete pass had the Stallions lining up to punt. A fake attempt was snuffed out by Thomas Williams, who made the tackle that set the Union offense up at the Stallions’ 3-yard line. Tyson, who finished with three carries for 23 yards, scored on a run from there as the Tigers built a 21-0 lead with 2:33 on the clock in the first quarter.
After Union’s defense forced a three-and-out, Gavin Jenkins caught a Klein pass for a 16-yard gain. The Tigers then had two incomplete passes before going back to the run game, with Drew Simmons breaking free for an 18-yard gain. Klein, who was 4 of 7 for 79 yards, then found Jenkins for a 32-yard touchdown with 10:32 to play in the second quarter.
Jenkins finished with the two catches for 48 yards.
The Tigers’ offense was on the move again after the defense forced another punt. Bryan Tyson, in at quarterback, had a 12-yard run and then got the Stallions to jump offsides. Bryce Lawton (three carries for 29 yards) took a handoff for a 14-yard gain, followed by Simmons gaining 8 yards. Bryan Tyson would eventually end the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run as Union led 35-0 with 4:49 to play in the first half.
Tyson finished with four carries for 46 yards.
Simmons, who rushed for 46 yards on four carries, almost added another score before halftime with a 46-yard punt return.
The final score came on a 5-yard run up the middle by Wyatt Elixson for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Seager led the Union defense in tackles with six, while Klein had four.
