BY ANTONIO HENDERSON
Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
Class 1M Orlando Christian Prep outscored the Union County High School football team 9-0 in the fourth quarter, with a Gustavo Garcia field goal proving to be the difference as the host Tigers lost 22-21 on Sept. 22.
The Tigers take a 2-2 record into a bye week, returning to action at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, when they host Hollis Christian for homecoming.
After Orlando Christian (5-0) was unsuccessful on an onside-kick attempt to start the game, Union marched down the field with quick screen plays, with one paying off in the form of a 20-yard touchdown from Trenton Klein to Dayquan Diston. Jonathan Edwards added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors started their first possession with the run game, handing the ball to Akeevin Anderson for a 7-yard gain. On the next play, the Tigers’ Anthony Holmes made a tackle in the backfield for a 1-yard loss, but Orlando Christian would eventually pick up a first down. The Warriors then went back to Anderson, who broke free for a 65-yard run. Orlando Christian kept it on the ground, with Joshua Demosthenes carrying the ball into the end zone on a fourth-and-1 play with 1:24 left in the first quarter. Garcia kicked the extra point to tie the score.
Union went back to its bread-and-butter run game, handing off to Bobo Woodall, who had a 15-yard gain. Two more carries by Woodall set up third-and-6 entering the second quarter. Klein dropped back and threw a ball to Gavin Jenkins for a 13-yard gain. On the next play, Klein called his own number, but the Warriors held him to no gain. The quarterback, who completed 8 of 15 passes for 149 yards, went back to the air, finding a wide-open Ibn Williams for a 14-yard gain. It was then back to the run game, with Woodall racking up a 7-yard gain. Woodall then caught a screen pass, breaking it for a 37-yard touchdown. With Edwards’ PAT, the Tigers led 14-7.
The Tigers were backed up near their own end zone on their next possession when they fumbled. Orlando Christian recovered for a goal-to-go opportunity, but the Union defense came up with a big play on first down with a 10-yard sack by Connor Bresee. The Warriors then handed the ball off to Avery Anderson for a 6-yard gain. Jacob Jenkins came up with a sack-fumble on third down, with Orlando Christian recovering the loose ball. With three seconds left in the half, Garcia kicked a 26-yard field goal to make the score 14-10.
Union’s defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half, but the Tigers muffed he punt, which allowed the Warriors to get the ball back at the Union 9-yard line. The Tigers’ Erich Seager was all over the Orlando Christian offense, racking up two sacks and another tackle for a loss, forcing the Warriors to settle for a field goal, which was good, making the score 14-13 with 6:51 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers were penalized for a false start prior to the first play on their next offensive series, but Woodall, who was their workhorse for the night, rushed for a 15-yard gain. A holding penalty backed Union up again, but Klein went up the middle to pick up a first down. Klein then went with a hard count to draw the Warriors offsides, setting up first-and-5. Two plays later, on third-and-3, Woodall was able to pick up the first down. Woodall, who rushed for 78 yards on 12 carries, picked up another 4 yards on the next play.
Running the ball opened up the pass game, which resulted in Brycen Boney catching a 13-yard pass. Klein, who rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries, then snuck the ball up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left in the third quarter. Edwards kicked the extra point, making it 21-13.
Orlando Christian picked up a first down on a quick screen to Avery Anderson as the third quarter expired. Cameron Kurzon then found a wide-open Akeevin Anderson for a 67-yard touchdown. The Warriors went for the tie on a two-point conversion attempt, but Diston broke up the pass on a fade route, with the Tigers clinging to a 21-19 lead.
The Warriors got the ball back in good field position when they stopped the Tigers on a fourth-and-2 play at the Union 25-yard line. Union’s defense responded with Jacob Jenkins making a tackle for a 2-yard loss on the first play following the turnover on downs. After a false-start penalty and an incomplete pass, Orlando Christian had a 13-yard pass. Garcia then completed his 3-for-3 night on field-goal attempts, putting the Warriors ahead 22-21 with 7:19 left in the game.
Union’s offense gained a first down on the next series on a facemask penalty, but the Warriors’ Brayden Schuster picked off a pass.
The Warriors went back to their ground game, with Avery Anderson gaining 3 yards, but a bad snap on the next play resulted in a 17-yard loss. Union’s defense held and forced Orlando Christian to punt with 4:20 remaining.
After two incomplete passes to start their next drive, the Tigers gained a first down on a 50-yard run by Woodall. Drew Simmons then had carries for 9 and 15 yards, but a holding penalty brought the second run back. Union eventually turned the ball over on downs, which allowed the Warriors to take a knee and run out the clock.
Woodall complemented his ground game with two catches for 81 yards, giving him 159 all-purpose yards.
The Tigers finished with 288 yards, while the Warriors had 176.
Klein and Cole Austin led the defense in tackles with nine each. Jacob Jenkins had seven, while Boney had six.
