Sullivan Football Snapped Nine-Season Losing Streak Against Union Wildcats

With 1:11 left in the 4th quarter, Sullivan running back Franky Erxleben blasted into the endzone, securing a 34-27 victory over the Union Wildcats.

But, just a few plays earlier, Erxleben had been lying on the turf, clutching his calf as it cramped up. Down by one point, the Eagles were at 4th and 8 midfield, with their top rusher possibly out of the game. Erxleben then picked himself back up, limped into the huddle and led the Eagles to a game-winning touchdown.

“I was super excited to score the game winner!” Erxleben exclaimed. “It’s been nine years since we beat Union, so it was really exciting.”

Eagles were shouting “nine years” on the sideline after their losing drought against the Wildcats had been broken.

In their previous two matchups, Sullivan had racked up an impressive 106 points. In contrast, Union had managed to score only 21 points in their first two games.

Eagles quarterback Robert York II assumed a more significant passing role, throwing for 147 yards and one touchdown. Seth Valley topped the team in receiving yardage with 93, while Erxleben had a team-high of 101 on rushing.

Even with two interceptions by Curtis Rall, the pass coverage struggled to lock down Union’s passing game. The defensive line held a strong effort keeping the rushing game to a minimum.

In the opening play, Union quarterback Connor Curnutte’s pass was intercepted by Rall. Sullivan reached the end zone, with Erxleben scoring the first touchdown for an early 6-0 score.

Union then responded with a 94-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Birke, taking a 7-6 lead over the Eagles.

Rall added another interception, stripping the ball from the receiver’s hands, but Sullivan’s offense was unable to make a trip down to the endzone.

After some back-and-forth action, Wildcat receiver Hayden Parmenter sprinted down the left side to seize a 14-6 lead.

Right before halftime, Valley drove the Eagles downfield and scored 6 points after catching a perfect spiral from York.

Union extended their score to 21-12 at the beginning of the 3rd quarter when Union wide receiver Ryan Rapert caught a 65-yard touchdown pass.

Sullivan’s passing game also showcased its strengths when Dominic Ransom caught a pass in the endzone. York scrambled for the two-point conversion, narrowing the score to 21-20.

York continued to use his impressive scrambling abilities to extend Sullivan’s lead to 26-20. On 4th and 7, with the Eagles 11 yards from the endzone, York scrambled to the right, reaching his arm over a sea of defenders just beyond the first-down marker. He would pick up the touchdown on another sneak, diving into the endzone.

With 4:08 remaining in the 4th quarter, Union found themselves also 11 yards from a touchdown on 4th down, but managed to reach a one-point lead of 27-26.

Sullivan slowly moved the chains and reached 4th and 8 at midfield, with Union’s defense still putting up a strong fight. Erxleben struggled to get up due to a leg cramp,  but he got back up to prove Sullivan was not backing down from this fight.

The Eagles then successfully converted a first down as York escaped under pressure and delivered a pass to Valley right at the marker.

Erxleben then bulldozed through the Wildcats, falling just one yard short of the endzone. He then sealed the victory, finding a gap in the endzone for the game-winning score of 34-27.

Just as Erxleben overcame his calf cramps to secure Sullivan’s final score, the Eagles defied all odds to snap their nine-season losing streak against the Wildcats.

Sullivan’s next game will be at St. Clair on Friday, Sep. 15, at 7 p.m.