BY LISA HOLTZENDORF
Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
Union County High School’s football team had two touchdowns negated by penalties as the Tigers lost 28-0 to Class 2A Baldwin on Sept. 12.
The Tigers (1-2) gave up only two scores defensively, with Baldwin scoring touchdowns on an interception return and a kickoff return.
Offensively, it was a struggle for Union, which gained just 115 yards. Leading rusher Drew Simmons was held to 35 yards on 16 carries.
Interim Head Coach Lamar Waters offered encouragement during a somber postgame huddle and challenged his team, saying the players had 24 hours to shake off the loss and move forward in preparing for the next opponent. Union travels to play Fort White on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m.
The evening began with a celebration of Pop Warner, as that organization’s players, cheerleaders and coaches took the field alongside the Tigers. The young players ran stride for stride with the older players as they ran out of the tunnel and onto the field. The high school cheerleaders assisted the Pop Warner cheerleaders with cheers and stunts each quarter in front of the packed house at The Jungle.
Jeffrey Brugh, Wyatt Elixson, C.J. Ivey and Alec McClellon represented the Tigers during the coin toss, which was won by Baldwin. The Indians (4-0) deferred their option to the second half.
A short kickoff to open the game was fielded by Union’s Parker Parrish at his own 45. Despite the good field position, the Tigers were unable to gain a first down and punted.
Union’s defense likewise held Baldwin’s offense in check, forcing the Indians to go three-and-out as well.
The teams traded possessions throughout the first quarter, failing to gain first downs until the Indians broke the ice when quarterback Stephen Screws completed a pass to Harrison Farnum to keep a drive alive. The Indians continued to drive
down the field on a reception by Jaden Barnett that resulted in a first down. Union’s defense would put a halt to the drive and force Baldwin to turn the ball over on downs.
Union’s offense gained some momentum on an 8-yard run by Bryce Lawton and a long run by McClellon, giving the Tigers a first down at the Baldwin 36. Simmons then had a touchdown run, but it was called back on a holding penalty. Adding insult to injury, a Brugh pass on third down was intercepted by Baldwin’s Taylor Davenport, who returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. Demar Richards added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 10:50 remaining in the second quarter.
The Indians attempted an onside kick after the score, recovering the ball at their own 45-yard line. Baldwin tested the Union defense by completing a pass for one first down and then gaining another first down on a quarterback keeper. Just when it looked as if the Indians were on track for another score, the Tigers’ Edward Durant literally took the ball away from Screws and took it the distance for a touchdown. However, that score was called back as well as Union was penalized for an illegal block.
Baldwin’s Barnett fielded the second-half kickoff, taking it 80 yards for a touchdown and putting the Indians up 13-0. The PAT was no good.
Union, trying to get something going on offense, utilized direct snaps to its running backs. That resulted in a few good carries by Simmons and Ivey, who had a powerful run in which he carried several Indians on his back. However, after two penalties, the Tigers eventually turned the ball over on downs.
The Indians began the ensuing drive at their own 45. Three plays later, Nashawn Jacobs turned on the jets and burst up the middle for a 35-yard touchdown run. Henry Harris’ run on the two-point conversion made the score 21-0 with 2:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Jacobs scored the Indians’ final touchdown in the fourth quarter, with Baldwin adding the extra point for the 28-0 final.
The Tigers will play a fellow Rural Class team for the first time this season when they travel to play Fort White. Fort White (2-2) is coming off a 28-27 loss to Fernandina Beach.
In last season’s meeting, Union defeated Fort White 46-19.
