Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
Rayvon Durant rushed for two touchdowns, while the defense recorded its first shutout this season as the Union County High School football team made homecoming a happy one with a 47-0 win over Akelynn’s Angels Christian Academy on Oct. 1.
The Tigers (5-0) have now won all but one of their games by double digits. They now prepare to go on the road to play Dixie County on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Union’s Daylyn Diston got the game started by returning the opening kickoff to the Tigers’’ 40-yard line. The Tigers earned a pair of first downs on runs by Caleb Crawford as they moved inside the red zone. On second-and-5 from the 10, Durant took a handoff around left end for a touchdown. Jonathan Edwards added the extra point for a 7-0 lead at the 8:06 mark of the first quarter.
Disaster struck for Akelynn’s Angels (1-4) on the ensuing series. After three plays, the Wildcats lined up to punt, but the snap sailed over punter Dyvonique McWilliams’ head. McWilliams recovered the ball as Union’s Curran Webb and Thomas Williams descended upon him to record a safety and give the Tigers a 9-0 lead with 5:46 left in the first quarter.
Union fielded the free kick and once again had a great return to the 50-yard line. The Tigers moved into the red zone once again, thanks to runs that gained first downs by Diston and Durant as well as an offsides penalty. The Wildcats stood strong and kept Union from earning another first down. Edwards added to the Tigers’ lead, connecting on a 25-yard field goal to make the score 12-0 with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Wildcats started the second quarter on their own 32-yard line. A tackle by Webb and a sack by Dayviontae Thompson had Akelynn’s Angels facing a fourth-and-long play. The Wildcats decided to go for it, but McWilliams was sacked again by Thompson for a 9-yard loss.
Union’s offense had excellent field position at the Wildcats’ 21-yard line. After a fumbled snap on first down, the Tigers put their offense in motion with good runs by Durant and Crawford, resulting in a first down at the 7. Durant, on a run up the middle, appeared to have scored, but officials marked him down at the 2. Crawford would eventually find the end zone, going virtually untouched up the middle, thanks to excellent blocking by Durant, Tucker Baynard, Dayven Kelley, Carson Rogers and Mikah Wilson. The Tigers, after Edwards’ PAT, increased their lead to 19-0 with 8:35 left in the second quarter.
The Wildcats finally earned a first down on a run by Dorian Webster. However, their success was short-lived. On a third-and-7 play, Thompson and Webb teamed up to sack McWilliams and force a punt on fourth down.
One play later, quarterback Martin Odum connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass to Diston. Edwards again kicked the extra point, making the score 26-0.
The following kickoff was mishandled by the Wildcats, with Williams making a recovery for the Tigers at the Akelynn’s Angels’ 33-yard line. The Wildcats did force Union into having to go for it on a fourth-and-6 play, but the Tigers converted on a run by Crawford. Odum then kept the ball on an option play, scoring on a 5-yard run late in the second quarter. Edwards added the PAT for a 33-0 lead.
Akelynn’s Angels wanted to go into halftime on a positive note. They put together a drive that produced two first downs, thanks to a run by Webster and a penalty. However, Thompson and Webb would once again team up for a sack.
It was the type of play Union Head Coach Andrew Thomas stressed the previous week that he wanted to see from his team. He wants his team to not let up when getting a big lead.
The Wildcats put together their best drive to start the second half, with Webster busting out with a 27-yard run. McWilliams then completed his first pass, which was caught by Webster for an 11-yard gain. The drive, though, began to fall apart after multiple penalties, one of which negated what would’ve been a touchdown. On a fourth-and-long play, Brycen Boney came up with a sack for the Tigers.
Durant, who finished with 98 yards on 13 carries, stole the show on the following series. He earned back-to-back first downs before busting out with an 18-yard run through Wildcat defenders for a touchdown. Edwards added the extra point to extend the lead to 40-0 as the third quarter came to a close.
Members of the junior varsity team, which ended its season with a 4-1 record, saw playing time in the fourth quarter. With Trenton Klein stepping in at quarterback, the Tigers went on to score a final time, with Williams taking a pitch into the end zone on a 9-yard run. Edwards kicked the extra point to cap the scoring.
The Tigers rushed for 251 yards. Crawford was second on the team behind Durant with 57 yards on 10 carries. Diston had 31 yards on seven carries, while Klein gained 26 yards on just three carries.
Odum attempted four passes, completing three for 105 yards.
Webb led the defense with 11 tackles, with 4.5 for loss. Trevor Holtzendorf made nine tackles, while Jimmy Cox had a fumble recovery.
On Friday, the Tigers take on a Dixie County team that has won three of its last four games. The Bears (3-2) are coming off a bye week, which followed their 56-27 win over Hamilton County. Dixie also has a 49-10 win over Williston, while its first win came by forfeit.
