The Union football team beat the Mountain View Thunder for the first time in school history Friday night.
Of course, it was the first time these neighbors in the same school district have played each other.
The Union defense held the Thunder out of the end zone, and a Union touchdown and field goal in the first half were plenty enough for the Titans in a 10-0 victory at McKenzie Stadium.
“There’s no way they’re going to score. We couldn’t let them score,” defensive lineman Kieran Weatherspoon said of Union’s game plan.
The Thunder were held to 159 yards of offense, with much of those yards coming in their final drive of the game, trying to get on the board and try for an onside kick.
Mountain View converted on two fourth-down plays in the closing minutes but failed to convert for any points.
“We were freaking out a little bit,” defensive lineman Jordan Newman acknowledged. “But then we got together, we calmed down, and we got it done.”
Union quarterback Kaben Humphrey-Butler’s perfect pass to Ray Burney in a play that covered 80 yards was the lone touchdown of the game. It gave the Titans a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
From there, Mountain View’s defense was nearly as strong as Union’s.
Mountain View defenders Ryan Johnson, Chris Mitchell, and Josh Stolz all made plays behind the line of scrimmage, keeping the Thunder within striking distance.
Johnson said the Thunder played inspired ball after a difficult week. Mountain View High School lost two students in separate incidents. There was a moment of silence prior to the game, and the Thunder wanted to honor their classmates with a strong showing.
“You kind of want to rally the community and have everyone around you,” Johnson said. “We definitely played with an extra oomph today, that’s for sure.”
Even the post-game celebration was muted a bit on Union’s side of the field.
“We were cognizant of the situation over there,” Union coach Cale Piland said. “Our hearts go out to their families. It was definitely a subdued environment. I was real proud of how our student body and our kids handled it.”
Union fans unveiled a banner that read: “U loves The View.”
“We feel for Mountain View,” Newman said. “It’s very sad over there.”
The real-life matters overshadowed a first for Clark County football, this game between Union and Mountain View. The Titans, now in their fourth season of football, played in-district foes Evergreen and Heritage the past two seasons and will again this year. But this was a first for Titans-Thunder.
“We knew they wanted to beat us bad,” Union linebacker Sam Ferenchak said. “We wanted to come out and not give them any room.”
For the most part, that’s what the Union defense did.
“It’s all about the football,” Weatherspoon said of Union’s attacking style on defense.
Get to the ball.
“When we have the ball, we keep it. When they have it, we take it,” Ferenchak said.
The Union offense was held in check for most of the game, too. But Zak Browning busted loose for a 72-yard run late in the game to break the 100-yard barrier again. He finished with a game-high 138 yards rushing. Brandon Brody-Heim added 69 yards on 14 carries.
Humphrey-Butler threw for 150 yards in the first half and only attempted two passes in the second half. Burney finished with three catches for 103 yards.
Mountain View’s Sterling Reynolds led the Thunder with 72 yards on 15 carries. Quarterback Ryan Hansen threw for 55 yards, with Johnson making three catches for 46 yards.
“It’s fun that we finally got to play those guys. We’ve been itching to play them,” Johnson said. “We’re not into moral victories, but we playede well. One play or another, it could have been a different game.”
Union, though, got the points it needed in the first quarter when Hudson Poissant nailed a 20-yard field goal.
“Our defense has been stout all season,” said Browning, also a linebacker. “You know what they say, defense wins championships. I think we’ve got the defense to do that. If we can put (the offense and defense) together, we got ourselves a championship team.”
The Titans start their journey toward what they hopes will be a league championship beginning next week when the Titans play their first game in the 4A Greater St. Helens League.
This game with 3A Mountain View was a non-league contest.
And it is a rivalry, even if it is just the first meeting on the football field.
Union 3 7 0 0—10
Mountain View 0 0 0 0— 0
First quarter
U — Hudson Poissant 20 FG
Second quarter
U — Ray Burney 80 pass from Kaben Humphrey-Butler (Poissant kick)
Leaders
Rushing — Union: Zak Browning 9-138, Brandon Brody-Heim 14-69; Mountain View: Sterling Reynolds 15-72.
Passing — Union: Humphrey-Butler 9-14-0-150; Mountain View: Ryan Hansen 5-13-0-55.
Receiving — Union: Burney 3-103, Brody-Heim 2-21, T.J. Boatright 1-20, Gabe Rego 2-6; Mountain View: Ryan Johnson 3-46, Jeff Carmody 1-6, P.J. Jones 1-3.
