Published: October 24, 2007 12:36 pm            

Scott Central spoils Union homecoming

UNION — A 21-0 halftime deficit was too much for the Union Yellowjackets to overcome as they lost their homecoming game 34-14 to Scott Central Friday night.

In losing for the fourth straight week, Union fell to 1-4 in Region 5-2A and 3-5 overall. Scott Central improved to 2-2 and 4-3.

“We’re struggling right now on offense,” Union head coach Brad Breland said. “We can’t really get comfortable and get an identity of what we’re going to do or what we’re good at.

“Tonight, in the second half we got good at what we do and that’s running the read option. The quarterback did better, the line played great and I was proud of them. That’s the best our line has played all year.”

Neither team scored in the first quarter, but the Rebels rushed 16 times for 85 yards while holding the ‘Jackets to five yards on just five plays.

Scott Central took an 8-0 lead on the second play of the second quarter as the Rebels capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard run by sophomore Chris Ficklin. After Union jumped offside on the extra point, the Rebels went for two with Ficklin again bulling his way into the end zone.

The Rebels were back in business when Michael Holley fumbled the kickoff at the Union 17. Three plays later, Eric Wagner scored on an 8-yard run to give Scott Central a 14-0 lead with 9:45 left in the second quarter.

Union then drove 38 yards to the Rebel 39 only to punt the ball into the end zone on fourth-and-5.

Ficklin blocked a Robert Munn punt with the Rebels recovering at the Union 22 to get their final touchdown of the half. Johnny Magee teamed with Kenneth Barlow on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 41.2 seconds left before intermission.

The Rebels then recovered an onside kick, but were unable to score despite advancing to the Union 17 on back-to-back pass interference calls on the ‘Jackets.

“The blocked punt is what broke our back,” Breland said. “Even with us coming back and fighting, three touchdowns is a lot different than two touchdowns. I was really proud of the way we fought back.

“The score doesn’t indicate it, but it was a 21-14 ballgame. We’ll live for another day.”

Kyeonee Russell set the ‘Jackets up for their first score when he picked off a Magee pass and returned it 31 yards to the Rebel 39. Following a 17-yard toss from Shunadrick Landfair to Holley to the Rebel 8, Matthew James scored from a yard out with a minute left in the third quarter. The ‘Jackets were unable to get the extra point off and trailed 21-6.

Union then put together a 12-play, 66-yard scoring drive to close to within 21-14 with 6:19 remaining. James got the touchdown on a 3-yard run. Key plays on the drive were an 11-yard run by Landfair and passes of 10 and 12 yards from Landfair to Holley. Roderick Hawkins added a two-point conversion run to bring the ‘Jackets to within seven points.

Scott Central recovered a short kickoff at its 41, then covered 59 yards in nine plays to seal the win. The drive was kept alive by a roughing the punter penalty on Holley with 4:36 remaining.

Wagner got the touchdown on a 3-yard run with 3:15 to play. Dustin Cushman added the extra point.

The ‘Jackets turned the ball over on downs at their 23 with 1:31 remaining and Wagner tacked on an 18-yard touchdown run with 35.1 seconds showing.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.