Despite big win, brawl leaves
Union ‘short-staffed’ for Friday
Union (26) vs. South Side Beaver (3)
Written: Sep 27, 2010
 By JOE SAGER
News Correspondent
HOOKSTOWN — There was more strategizing than celebrating for the Union High football team over the weekend.
Instead of fully enjoying their 26-3 Big Seven Conference triumph at South Side Beaver on Saturday, the Scotties turned their attention to their approach for Friday’s game at Sto-Rox.
That’s because three players — Andre Jones, Tre Major and Chris Cooper — were ejected for their parts in a benches-clearing brawl late in the third quarter following a kickoff. The Rams’ Justin Martz, Josh Martz and Jess Orison were given the gate as well. As per PIAA rules, all six players will have to serve a one-game suspension that goes along with an ejection.
The losses are tough for Union (1-1 conference, 2-2 overall) as it visits the Vikings (1-1, 3-1), who were the Post-Gazette’s third-ranked WPIAL Class A team last week. Without Jones, the Scotties will have to adapt their offense as he is their playmaker at quarterback and a top contributor on defense.
“In about eight ways it affects our game — special teams, offense, defense — the whole nine yards. We have to find a way to get it done. There won’t be any of us lying down and crying about it,” Union coach Stacy Robinson said. “We can’t afford to lose anybody. But, such is life. We have to move on and deal with it.”
Until the ejection, it was a good afternoon for Jones and Union. He hooked up with Wayne Seamans on touchdown passes of 6, 24 and 29 yards.
“Wayne ran the routes crisp and Andre put the ball on him and Wayne looked it in, just as he’s coached to do,” Robinson said. “Those are coachable guys and that’s why things work out for them.”
Seamans helped set up the Scotties’ first touchdown as he intercepted a pass deep in South Side Beaver territory. Seven plays later, he hauled in the short scoring pass for a 7-0 lead.
“On the interception, I had help from Andre Jones and John Clark. They tipped the ball to me,” Seamans said. “We needed this win for the playoff race. We’re sitting good now at 2-2. We come out against Sto-Rox next and we have to be ready. We need to have a good week of practice and I think we’ll be ready to go.”
The Rams trimmed the deficit to 7-3 when Dan Slaney booted a 37-yard field goal with 3:23 left in the half.
Jones ran back the ensuing kick 50 yards to put Union on the Rams’ 37 with 3:14 on the clock. Five plays later, he found Seamans again for a 24-yard TD strike and a 14-3 advantage.
Late in the third quarter, the Scotties boosted their lead to 20-6 when Jones found Seamans for a 29-yard scoring strike on fourth down.
“I was wide open a lot of the times. Andre Jones threw nice passes to me and I made the plays and we came up with the win,” Seamans said. “They were playing far off me. I just found openings.”
On Union’s ensuing kickoff, the hosts fell on the short bouncer. A couple players became tangled at the end of the play and it soon developed into a Pier 6 brawl as personnel from both sides came onto the field.
Once the penalties were sorted, Drew Robinson, the coach’s son, intercepted Ryan Scialabba’s pass to give the Scotties the ball at their own 45 with 1:05 left in the quarter.
From there, Union’s offensive line took charge. The team embarked on a 12-play drive that resulted in Carrington Bell’s 4-yard TD run. Also, it chewed 6:20 from the clock and left the guests with a 26-3 edge with 6:45 to play.
“We got some people and we’re trying to bring some other people along so we can develop more than just the Jones and Robinson weapons. It’s starting to take shape,” Stacy Robinson said. “The offensive line did a great job. They are senior-led and they came out and moved people off the ball and that’s the key. That’s why we won.
“I am proud of the guys and the way they responded, especially after last week when that hurricane from Rochester blew through us. We weathered the storm, so to speak, and we came out and I am happy and excited for the kids to get a win.”
The Scotties put an end to South Side’s comeback hopes when they picked off yet another pass on the hosts’ next possession. On the afternoon, Union intercepted four passes and limited the Rams to 153 total yards — just 33 in the second half.
“We responded well defensively. It’s always a joy as a coach when you coach people to do things and they do them. They were coached up and they did a good job. We played sound football in just about every facet,” Stacy Robinson said. “In the Big Seven, it’s a grind and we have to be prepared to grind it. We’re back at it next week. I guess we’ll be short-staffed, so to speak, but we have to do what we have to do.”
*****
UNION S.S. BEAVER
18 First downs 10
254 Yards Rushing 133
14 Yards Lost 4
240 Net Rushing 129
17 Passes Attempted 18
7 Passes Completed 4
1 Passes Intercepted 4
106 Yards Passing 24
346 Total Yards 153
1-0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
3-30 Punts-Average 2-25.5
8-50 Penalties-Yards 2-15
UNION 0 14 6 6 — 26
S.S. BEAVER 0 3 0 0 — 3
Scoring plays
UNION — Wayne Seamans, 6-yard pass from Andre Jones (Joe Salmen kick)
SOUTH SIDE — Dan Slaney, 37-yard field goal
UNION — Seamans, 24-yard pass from Jones (Salmen kick)
UNION — Seamans, 29-yard pass from Jones (kick blocked)
UNION — Carrington Bell, 4-yard run (kick failed)
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