Union struggles defensively in loss to OLS
Union (21) vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (62)
Written: Oct 16, 2016
By Shawn Fox
New Castle News
MOON — Things started off so well Saturday night for the Union High football team.
Tre’von Charles returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give the Scotties a quick 7-0 lead over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
Things, however, went downhill from there. In a big way.
The Chargers piled up 493 yards of offense and scored on several big plays as they knocked off Union, 62-21, in a WPIAL Class 1A Big Seven Conference game at Moon High School’s Tiger Stadium.
“We got whupped,” Union coach Stacey Robinson said. “There’s not a whole lot to say.”
Of its nine touchdowns in the game, OLSH (4-2 conference, 5-2 overall) had six of them coming on plays of 28 yards or more.
“We had shown that ability this year,” OLSH coach Dan Bradley said. “Coming in, I think we had scored on 17 plays of 14 yards or more. We just hadn’t hit as many big plays as we did tonight.”
After Charles’ kickoff return opened the contest, OLSH tied the game at 7-apiece a little over a minute later. Tyler Bradley connected with Markus Jenkins on a 28-yard scoring strike to knot the game at the 10:51 mark.
Bradley, a sophomore, completed 10 of 20 passes for 273 yards with four touchdowns and an interception in the game. Jenkins was his top target, catching five passes for 113 yards and two scores.
The Chargers again went to the air for their second score, with Bradley finding Matt Schnarre for a 59-yard score at the 7:57 mark to give OLSH a lead it would not relinquish.
“They had shown that big-play ability throughout the season,” Robinson said. “We just couldn’t stop them tonight.”
Schnarre scored on a 9-yard run later in the quarter to give the Chargers a 21-7 edge after one.
An Austin Wigley 4-yard run increased OLSH’s lead before Union (2-4, 3-5) put together its best offensive drive of the game.
Taking over at their own 40-yard line, the Scotties drove the distance in six plays to cut the deficit to 28-14. The drive was capped when quarterback Evan Pinkerton found Kyree Huddleston for a 5-yard scoring strike. The drive was aided by a 15-yard run by Michael Flowers and a 12-yard completion from Pinkerton to K’Von Huddleston.
Union’s next offensive drive was snuffed out as Richard Banks picked off Pinkerton and returned the interception 65 yards for a TD.
The Scotties answered just 16 seconds later, as Charles sprinted for a 60-yard touchdown run. The junior running back had a solid all-around game for Union, rushing for 103 yards on 12 carries and catching five passes for 64 yards.
Wigley, who finished with 119 yards rushing on 10 carries, gave the Chargers a 21-point lead heading into the lockerroom when he broke free on a 58-yard jaunt.
OLSH got a pair of long TD passes in the third quarter as Bradley connected with Jenkins (53 yards) and Dante Trombetta (67 yards) to push its lead to 56-21. Bradley polished off the scoring with a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Union, which had won 3 of 4 games heading into Saturday’s contest, will face a tough test Friday as it hosts conference kingpin Rochester (6-0, 7-0).
UNION OLSH
9 First downs 15
180 Yards Rushing 234
28 Yards Lost 14
152 Net Rushing 220
18 Passes Attempted 20
10 Passes Completed 10
1 Passes Intercepted 1
90 Yards Passing 273
242 Total Yards 493
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
5-24.6 Punts-Average 0-0
7-70 Penalties-Yards 10-96
UNION 7 14 0 0 — 21
OLSH 21 21 14 6 — 62
Scoring plays
UNION — Tre’von Charles, 90-yard kickoff return (Tyrone Louis kick).
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Markus Jenkins, 28-yard pass from Tyler Bradley (Christian Murray kick).
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Matt Schnarre, 59-yard pass from Bradley (Murray kick).
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Schnarre, 9-yard run (Murray kick).
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Austin Wigley, 4-yard run (Murray kick).
UNION — Kyree Huddleston, 5-yard pass from Evan Pinkerton (Louis kick).
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Richard Banks, 65-yard interception return (Murray kick).
UNION — Charles, 60-yard run (Louis kick).
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Wigley, 58-yard run (Murray kick).
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Jenkins, 53-yard pass from Bradley (Dante Trombetta pass from Bradley)
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Trombetta, 67-yard pass from Bradley (run failed)
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART — Bradley, 3-yard run (run failed)
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