The Titans scored four times after Evergreen turnovers, pulling away from the Plainsmen for a comfortable win at McKenzie Stadium.
Leon Siofele led the Titan attack with 101 yards and two touchdowns. But it was the Union defense that determined the course of this contest.
The Titans scored their first touchdown on a 21-yard fumble return in the second quarter by Kevin Grimsted. Moments later, Union’s Paul Gladkov blocked a punt to set up a weaving 7-yard touchdown run by Siofele that made the halftime score 14-0.
Any doubt about the outcome faded after the Titans opened the third quarter with a 12-play scoring drive of 50 yards.
That was the longest scoring drive of the game for the Titan offense, which covered 41 and 32 yards for fourth-quarter touchdowns.
The teams combined to fumble 15 times. Evergreen lost two of 10 fumbles and Union lost two of five. Both of Union’s lost fumbles spoiiled first-quarter scoring chances.
Union rushed for 200 yards on 41 carries and had 25 passing yards on four completions by quarterback Nolan Henry.
Evergreen finished with 96 yards of offense, 66 on the ground.
The one scoring chance for the Plainsmen came in the final minute of the first half. Evergreen’s Trent Foster partially blocked a Union punt, then quarterback Kobey Eaton completed a 21-yard pass to Brody Bagnall to put the ball at the Union 18. That opportunity ended with a 35-yard field goal try by Conner Finnegan that just missed.
UNION 34, EVERGREEN 0
Union 0 14 6 14–34
Evergreen 0 0 0 0–0
Second quarter
Uni — Kevin Grimsted 21 fumble return (Mitch Wheelon kick)
Uni — Leon Siofele 7 run (Wheelon kick)
Third quarter
Uni — James Munson 6 run (kick failed)
Fourth quarter
Uni — Siofele 15 run (Wheelon kick)
Uni — Munson 5 run (Wheelon kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Union: Siofele 16-101, Treve’ Ensley 8-46, Munson 4-30, Caleb Browning 4-30, Nolan Henry 8-(minus 10). Evergreen: Justin Straup 10-53, Jamaree Jones 8-15, Justice Murphy 7-7, Kobey Eaton 8-(minus 7), Anthony Thomas 2-(minus 2).
PASSING — Union: Henry 4-7-0-25. Evergreen: Eaton 2-5-1-30.
RECEIVING — Union: Trent Cowan 2-10, Ensley 2-15. Evergreen: Brody Bagnall 1-21, Thomas 1-9.
