BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Union County dominated both sides of the ball during its visit to Keystone Heights on Aug. 30, scoring 35 and holding the Indian offense scoreless.
It only took the Tigers (2-0) 2:15 to break onto the scoreboard. Five plays after Union took possession on its own 40, quarterback Trenton Klein connected with Gavin Jenkins for a 25-yard reception, taking the ball to the Keystone 18. From there, Klein and Jenkins hooked up for the game’s first score. The Tiger quarterback rushed in from 2 yards out for the two-point conversion, giving Union an 8-0 lead with 9:44 left in the first quarter.
Klein finished the game with 10 completions on 13 attempts for 128 yards and one touchdown.
After the Tiger defense forced a Keystone Heights punt on the subsequent possession, Union got the ball on its own 49. The Tigers executed a perfect double pass, completely fooling the Indian defense, but the receiver dropped the ball in the open field. That disappointment was short-lived, however, when, on the next play, Drew Simmons bolted for a 51-yard touchdown run. Union’s two-point conversion attempt fell flat with an incomplete pass, leaving the Tigers with a 14-0 lead with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
Simmons led the Tigers in rushing with nine carries for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
Play was stopped for approximately 25 minutes when Keystone offensive lineman Bryce Daniels suffered a lower-leg injury. Players from both teams went onto the field to offer their support and prayers for the sophomore.
Union took possession on its own 42 after Keystone’s punt when play resumed. From there, the Tigers launched an eight-play scoring drive, which concluded with a 35-yard Simmons gallop. Carter Whitehead’s extra point was true, and Union took a 21-0 lead with 2:06 left in the first quarter.
The closest Keystone (1-1) came to scoring was at the end of the first quarter, when the Indians marched from their own 38 to the Union 8. The 11-play drive was marred by unsportsmanlike-conduct and targeting penalties assessed against the Tigers. However, after being pushed to their 11-yard line, the Tiger defense stiffened, backing up Keystone a yard over the next three plays and corralling Keystone’s Jackson Parmeter after the Indian kick holder picked up an errant snap on an attempted field goal.
Union limited the Indians to 34 yards rushing and 60 yards in total offense.
Klein led the Tigers in tackles with four solos and one assist, and Connor Bresee had three solo tackles and one assist.
Thirteen Tigers recorded at least one defensive stop in the game.
After stopping the Indian threat, Union took over on its own 2 and drove 98 yards on 18 plays for its fourth touchdown. C.J. Ivey capped the drive with a 5-yard run, but the Indians blocked the PAT, giving the Tigers a 27-0 lead at halftime.
Union’s final score came with 6:33 left in the third quarter when Simmons ran in from 18 yards. Klein converted on the two-point attempt with a 2-yard scramble, leading to a final score of 35-0.
Union Head Coach Andrew Thomas said his offense ran his game plan perfectly.
“I thought we executed well and had the emphasis to come out kind of hot and try and strike early, and we did well,” he said. “Got the ball first and was able to score quickly and get off the field.”
Thomas added that the plan was to increase the offensive tempo and stretch the field, forcing the Keystone defense to play sideline to sideline.
I’m proud of the way we played,” he added. “I felt like we executed well tonight.”
Keystone Coach Steve Reynolds said the Union defensive line was the best he had seen since arriving at Keystone.
“They were physical, tough, they controlled the football, and they had a good game plan,” he said of the visitors from Lake Butler. “It’s a tough one.”
“We’ve got to clean up some errors,” Reynolds said. “We’ve got a bunch of hardworking kids, good players. We’ve just got to clean up some errors.”
Reynolds said Daniels’ injury and the traffic crash critically injuring junior varsity quarterback Ryder Trull earlier in the week impacted his team.
“Of course, it affected us,” he said. “But working to learn how to overcome adversity even as we grow into men — that’s what this is all about.”
“That’s no excuse,” he added about the team’s adversities. “We’ve got to rally and make plays.”
Union hosts Santa Fe on Friday, Sept. 6, at 7:30 p.m. The Union County Quarterback Club will be honoring the 1974 Tigers team that was the Class 2A state runner-up.
Santa Fe (0-2) is coming off a 33-7 loss to Gainesville.
Keystone has a bye and will return to action with a road game against Newberry on Friday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Newberry (1-1) opened the season with a 44-20 win over University Christian and lost 28-27 in overtime last week to two-time defending rural-classification state champ Hawthorne.
