Union’s rally falls short in loss to Western Beaver
Union (20) vs. Western Beaver (27)
Written: Oct 18, 2014
 By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News
The Union High football team’s offense fell asleep in the first half last night.
That slumber proved costly to the Scotties.
Union amassed minus-18 yards rushing and 38 yards total in the opening half and fell behind by 20 points. The Scotties rallied in the second half, but came up short in a 27-20 Big Seven Conference loss to visiting Western Beaver.
“I don’t know if they were doing anything or if it was the fact that we just weren’t coming off the ball putting a hat on anybody,” Union coach Stacy Robinson said of his team’s first-half offense. “They’re not a bad football team. They’re a good program. I’d say it was just us not coming off the ball and getting on our man.”
The Scotties (1-5 conference, 1-7 overall) came out firing to open the second half. Quarterback Anthony Rush marched Union 55 yards down to the Golden Beavers’ 5 before throwing an interception on third-and-goal from the 5.
Rush threw an interception to halt that first drive in the end zone. The Scotties have had troubles moving the ball in the red zone on the ground this season.
“That’s the tough thing about being the quarterback,” Robinson said. “It looks like Anthony did something wrong. But trust me, there’s usually a breakdown in protection, a route being run wrong. It’s tough playing quarterback.
“Our line, we’re undersized. If you’ve seen the size and weights of my offensive line, you’d be in shock. But what is to be is going to be and we have to play with the hand that is dealt to us. I give my guys credit for going out there because it’s not easy.”
The hosts picked up three first downs on the drive after getting just four in the opening 24 minutes.
“We came out and we had a really good first half,” Western Beaver coach Matt Gray said of his team’s defense. “In the second half, it just seemed like every time we had a stop, a penalty flag was thrown that would give them a first down. That kind of stuff happens. But our kids played extremely hard and I’m happy for them.”
The Scotties burned two of their three second-half timeouts on that first drive, making things difficult in the game’s late stages when time was a factor.
“That probably cost me a legitimate chance at trying to tie up the football game or winning it by blowing those two timeouts,” Robinson said. “They were in crucial parts of the field and I didn’t want to get a delay of game penalty. We had personnel issues and we didn’t line up properly. We just couldn’t afford to move backwards and I had to use them then.”
Union finally got on the board on its next possession when David Sadler plowed in from two yards out. Garrison Bell booted the extra point to cut the deficit to 20-7 with 3:27 to go in the third period.
Jullian Johnson scored the first of his two touchdowns when he ran in from two yards out with 7:57 to go. The extra point was blocked and the score held at 20-13.
The score was set up when Western Beaver’s long snapper snapped the ball over the punter Bob Halvin’s head. Halvin recovered the ball and was snowed under for a loss of 30 yards back to the Scotties’ 4. Two plays later Johnson was in the end zone.
“Coach Robinson does a great job,” Gray said. “We all try to do it. You never quit and you never give up. You never know what’s going to happen.
“We snapped the ball 40 yards over the punter’s head and they get it at the 4. Crazy stuff happens. But if you don’t believe and if you don’t think you can do it, you’re not going to do it.”
The teams traded touchdowns down the stretch and Western Beaver (2-4, 2-6) hung on for the win.
The Scotties’ last drive started at their 21 with 19 seconds left. Union threw two incompletions sandwiched around a false start and a pass completion as time expired.
Union finishes the season at 7 p.m. Friday at conference rival Neshannock.
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
W. BEAVER UNION
12 First downs 13
228 Yards Rushing 59
37 Yards Lost 42
191 Net Rushing 17
7 Passes Attempted 31
3 Passes Completed 13
0 Passes Intercepted 1
49 Yards Passing 170
240 Total Yards 187
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 3-1
5-31.8 Punts-Average 4-29.5
14-119 Penalties-Yards 7-60
W. BEAVER 0 20 0 7 — 27
UNION 0 0 7 13 — 20
Scoring plays
WESTERN BEAVER — Brett Gailey, 6-yard run (Hunter Roknich run).
WESTERN BEAVER — John Sosack, 10-yard run (kick failed).
WESTERN BEAVER — Roknich, 57-yard run (kick failed).
UNION — David Sadler, 2-yard run (Garrison Bell kick).
UNION — Jullian Johnson, 2-yard run (kick blocked).
WESTERN BEAVER — Roknich, 20-yard run (Gary Smith kick).
UNION — Johnson, 5-yard run (Bell kick).
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