Union knocks off OLSH
Union (20) vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (6)
Written: Sep 01, 2012
By Dave Aromatorio
New Castle News
The Union High football team started slowly, but finished strong last night.
The Scotties opened their Big 7 Conference schedule with a 20-6 win over visiting Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
“I’m really proud of these boys,” Union coach Stacy Robinson said. “It was a battle out there. That team (OLSH) is going to beat alot of people this year. We had kids cramping up all night, but they kept fighting.”
After exchanging punts, conference newcomer OLSH drove 52 yards for the game’s first score. Senior James Lee ran 22 yards on a counter play for the touchdown.
The Scotties’ offense sputtered again on their next possession. Quarterback Joe Salmen threw the first of his two interceptions and OLSH took over at the Union 49. After picking up a first down, the Chargers’ offense self-destructed. Two penalties forced OLSH into long-yardage situations. A couple of incompletions later and the Chargers were forced to punt.
Robinson put his offense in the shotgun and Salmen and company never looked back. The Scotties ate up nearly 10 minutes of clock and knotted the score at 6 as Salmen went 6 for 6 through the air. The 81-yard drive culminated when senior tailback Drew Robinson, working out of the Wildcat, took a direct snap and danced through the OLSH defense for a 12-yard touchdown scamper.
“You have to find ways to win,” Stacy Robinson, who doubles as Drew’s father, explained on the switch to the shotgun, “They have good players over there, but we believe we have some quality players, too.”
The Chargers answered the Union score with a lengthy drive of their own. They drove 45 yards to the Scotties’ 24 and were primed to tie it up before the half ended.
Drew Robinson, though, had other plans. He stepped in front of a Bill Mulcahey pass intended for star tailback Isiah Neely and went 76 yards with the pick. A block in the back penalty nullified the score and the first half ended deadlocked.
Union picked up where it left off. Staying in the shotgun suited Salmen just fine.
“Coach knows I feel comfortable in the gun,” Salmen said.
A perfect 3 for 3 passing effort from Salmen got the Scotties close. Junior wideout Benjamin Young did his best Lynn Swann impersonation when he tipped, then snagged, a perfect 21-yard floater as he tumbled backward in the end zone with a dazzling catch.
OLSH fumbled on the first play after the kickoff and Union was at it again. Salmen went 3 for 4 as the Scotties scored again before the quarter was out. This time, he hit Tre Major with a short pass and the senior tight end bulled his way in to the Chargers end zone for a 17-yard touchdown and a 20-6 lead.
“We’ve been at this for four years,” Salmen said while naming all his senior teammates. “This feels really good.”
Union played ball control in a traditional offense for the fourth quarter and salted the game away.
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OLSH UNION
9 First downs 17
138 ..Yards Rushing ..157
21 Yards Lost 46
117 Net Rushing 111
15. Passes Attempted ..20
6..Passes Completed ..15
2 Passes Intercepted .2
112.. Yards Passing ..140
229 Total Yards 251
3-1... Fumbles-Lost 1-0
3-38.7.. Punts-Average..2-25.5
12-65.. Penalties-Yards ..5-35
OLSH 6 0 0 0— 6
UNION 0 6 14 0—20
Scoring plays
OLSH — James Lee, 22-yard run (kick blocked).
UNION — Drew Robinson, 12-yard run (kick failed).
UNION — Benjamin Young, 19-yard pass from Joe Salmen (Salmen kick).
UNION — Tre Major, 23-yard pass from Salmen (Salmen kick).
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