Scott Central gives Union its first loss
By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Oct. 23, 2004
FOREST For a half, Union dominated Scott Central statistically in their battle for the Region 3-1A championship Friday night.
The host Rebels returned the favor in the second half en route to a 27-12 win as they improved to 9-0. Union fell to 8-1. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 in the state entering the contest.
In the first half, Union ran 35 plays for 159 total yards, while Scott Central had just 88 yards on 18 plays.
What the Yellowjackets failed to do, however, was convert their gains into points as the teams were even at 6-6 at halftime.
Union took the opening kickoff and drove 64 yards in 14 plays with four different backs carrying the ball at least twice on the drive. Anthony Johnson capped the march with a 3-yard run with 4:29 left in the first quarter. The extra point went wide right.
Johnson finished with 136 yards on 18 carries and led Union in tackles with 12.
The Rebels took advantage of one of Union's three turnovers to tie the game early in the second quarter. Mitch Bradford picked off a Jacob Casey pass to put Scott Central in business at the Union 20. Two plays later, Paul Bradford tightroped the left sideline for an 18-yard scoring run. The PAT sailed wide left, leaving the teams tied at 6-6.
Union threatened just before halftime as the Jackets drove from their 39 to the Scott Central 25 before turning the ball over on downs following a dropped pass at the 2-yard line.
The Rebels opened the second half with a five-play, 65-yard scoring drive to take the lead for good. Robert Gilbert opened the drive with a 32-yard run. After a 17-yard gain by Mitch Bradford, Shawn Bounds scored on a 12-yard bootleg around left end. Ivan Garcia added the extra point for a 13-6 lead.
Union turned the ball over on its very next play on a fumble at the Jacket 35. Eight plays later, Bounds scored on another bootleg around left end, this time from three yards out. Garcia's kick upped the Rebel lead to 20-6 with 6:48 left in the third quarter.
Union threatened with a 44-yard drive to the Rebel 1, only to be penalized on third-and-goal. Nickos Harris was stopped for no gain on third down and a fourth down pass by Casey fell incomplete.
The Jackets threatened again on their first possession of the fourth quarter, driving 54 yards to the Rebel 14 where Union lost a fumble on second-and-10.
The Rebels covered 78 yards in eight plays to put the game away. After Union jumped offside on fourth-and-three at the Jacket 39, Mitch Bradford rumbled 34 yards up the middle for a touchdown on the next play.
Union got its last touchdown with 30.5 seconds left when a 12-yard run by Derrick Holliday capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive. A two-point pass fell incomplete.
Scott Central finished with 325 total yards to 313 for Union. The Rebels had a 237-154 advantage in the second half.
