Union Gains Late Game Motivation To Defeat Sullivan

The Union Wildcats came out scrappy and had quick plays to take the Eagles by surprise on Friday. This was the first loss of the season for Sullivan and they were on the road. The game was back and forth until Union scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Sullivan fell to Union, 29-12.

In the first quarter, the Wildcats received the kickoff but turned over the ball to Sullivan without scoring. The ball was almost picked off when Curtis Rall barely missed an interception and the Eagles got their chance to score. Franky Erxleben picked up right where he left off last week and picked up a few rushing yards for Sullivan, but couldn’t meet the endzone. Jordan Rice and Colton Brendel stopped Union for a loss of two yards. Union secured a first down but almost threw an interception when Sam Summers broke up the pass. Union drew first blood when Liam Hughes found Colton Morrow wide open for a 26 yard pass reception in the end zone with a little less than six and a half minutes left. The kick was good and the Wildcats led 7-0. The Eagles received the kickoff and Jonathon Martin had a 37 yard return. There was a fumble but the ball was recovered by Jeremiah Rodriguez. Sullivan gave the ball up on downs but got it right back when Colton Brendel secured a huge interception.

The momentum was shifted in Sullivan’s favor when on a fourth down Sullivan got their first touchdown. Gabe Dace threw a bullet pass to his brother Gavin Dace for a 35 yard pass. The extra point attempt failed, but the Eagles were on the board 7-6 after the first play of the second quarter. The clock was at 11:44 with plenty of football left in the first half. The Eagles found themselves at fourth and goal but Union stopped them before they could score again. Union’s Cayden Roesch found hole through the line and recorded a huge run to give Union the edge. Sullivan kept up the pressure on Union but Hughes found his receiver and got a completed pass. Sullivan kept Union down. Sullivan got the ball back and Gabe Dace got a successful pass to Dominic Ransom. After a great run by Kayden Bryan, the Eagles were at first and goal. Union decided to take a time out and Sullivan turned the ball over on downs. Once Union got the ball back, they were at fourth and fifteen. Sullivan then took a time out with a little over a minute left. Sullivan was the only team to score in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, Sullivan tried to come out on top but Union answered back. Sullivan came out in the power I formation and Erxleben got the first down after another fantastic run. After a pass from Dace to Erxleben, they were at third and eight. Dace then made a great first down pass to Martin and Sullivan capitalized on the added motivation. On the next play, Gabe Dace made a stupendous pump fake that gave Summers enough time to get open in the endzone. The Wildcats answered right back with a little over a minute left in the third. Union’s Hughes found Hayden Burke open on a 37 yard pass reception.

Sullivan trailed Union, 14-12, to start the final quarter. The Eagles went back to punt the ball away and the snapped ball sailed over the punter's head. The ball was recovered by Union’s Parker Schrader and Morrow ran in for the two point conversion. The momentum shifted into Union’s favor after the big play. The Wildcats finished off the Eagles when Hughes completed a huge 47 yard pass to Ryan Rapert. The extra points were secured and the final score was 29-12.

Sullivan looks to avenge their loss at home against St. Clair. The following game is homecoming against the Pacific Indians.