Published: October 31, 2007 11:34 am            

Union shocks Philly

UNION — There have been quite a few upsets in college football this fall, but it’s doubtful there’s a bigger high school upset in the state this year than Union’s 13-6 Region 5-2A win over Philadelphia at the Tornadoes’ Harpole Stadium last Friday night.

Union improved to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in 5-2A with the win. A victory at Nanih Waiya this Friday would keep the Yellowjackets from suffering their first losing season since 2000.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia saw its seven-game win streak snapped as the Tornadoes fell to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in 5-2A.

“That shows a lot of character and showed what they’re made of,” Union head coach Brad Breland said of his team knocking off the region leaders.

“That speaks well of them to know that we’re out of the playoffs when we loaded the bus to go up there and for them to fight as hard as they did and give the effort they did. That ought to show everybody how much heart and how much character these guys have got.”

Neither team was able to put up any points in the first half.

Union recovered a fumble at the Tornado 36 in the first quarter and had first-and-10 at the 10, only to have quarterback Shunadrick Landfair lose the ball on the next play.

The Tornadoes made a bid to get on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, but Roderick Hawkins blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt by Cooper Jordan with 10:48 to go in the half.

Union grabbed a 7-0 lead with 2:02 left in the third quarter as Robert Munn hit Billy Talley for a 26-yard touchdown toss on a fake field goal attempt. Hawkins kicked the extra point.

“We’ve had it every week, the time just hasn’t been right,” Breland said of the trickery that caught the Tornadoes with their britches down. “We haven’t tried many field goals because we haven’t been down there that close very much.

“That’s just something we work on every week. We run it in practice and might not complete it on air, but it worked on Friday night.”

The score was set up when Philadelphia’s Georgio Grace lost a fumble after a 9-yard reception with the ‘Jackets recovering at the Tornado 44. Ten plays later, the ‘Jackets had the first points of the night.

The ‘Jacket defense fought hard to protect that lead as it kept the

Tornadoes off the scoreboard again in the third quarter, holding the Tornadoes to just 15 yards.

However, the hosts closed to within 7-6 with 4:47 left in the game as quarterback Tevin Houston scored on a 2-yard keeper on fourth-and-goal. Munn blocked the extra point, preserving a one-point lead for Union.

The Tornadoes would get the ball back two more times before Union could close out the win.

Union punted four plays after Houston’s score, but Keyshawn Nichols fumbled for the Tornadoes with 1:09 to play.

After Hawkins was tackled for a 6-yard loss, Philadelphia head coach Teddy Dyess realized Union could run the clock out and threw caution to the wind.

Landfair took advantage of the ploy as he scored on a 65-yard touchdown run with 51.8 seconds to play. The PAT was blocked, leaving Union with a 13-6 lead.

After a 15-yard facemask penalty on the kickoff, Philadelphia had the ball at the Union 45, but Hawkins picked off a pass on the Tornadoes’ second play and returned it to the 10 where Landfair took a knee as final seconds ticked off.

        

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