Titans get prepared for shot at Storm

The Union Titans did what they set out to do Friday: Win and prepare for next week, the final week of Class 4A Greater St. Helens League play.

The winning part came rather easily, as the Titans put up 361 yards of offense in the first half and got to the running clock for all of the second half against the Evergreen Plainsmen.

Nolan Henry completed 7 of 10 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, then did not play the rest of the night.

Leon Siofele had a quick game, as well, rushing for 70 yards and three touchdowns in a half of action.

Union (6-2, 3-1 GSHL) clinched a playoff berth with its win and Skyview’s victory over Battle Ground. The Titans will take on the Storm for the No. 2 seed from the league for the state preliminary playoffs. The loser of that game will be the No. 3 seed.

“It’s huge that we have that set already, but no excuses to let down at all next week,” Henry said.

The Titans took out their frustrations from losing to Camas in Week 7 on the Plainsmen in Week 8.

“Everyone had that taste in their mouths from last week,” Henry said. “We worked hard and got after it. That definitely reflected in how we played tonight.”

Ethan Beniga scored on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Henry and also scored on a 47-yard run off a backward pass from Henry.

“That was all the blocking,” Beniga said. “I have to give it to my receivers and line. I just found the lane. They created it for me.”

Thomas Lampkin also caught a long scoring pass from Henry. Jonathan Zavala connected on a 33-yard field goal for the Titans. Later, Caleb Browning finished the Union scoring with a 4-yard run.

Kyle Vermeulen, Jake Kronstad, and Marcus Boyd all had interceptions for the Titans.

Evergreen’s Conner Finnegan was true on a 40-yard field goal. The Plainsmen scored last on a 20-yard pass from Brandon Bea to Kobey Eaton.

UNION 54, EVERGREEN 10

Evergreen 0 3 0 7–10

Union 10 37 7 0–54

First quarter

U — Leon Siofele 1 run (Sterling Ransom kick)

U — Jonathan Zavala 33 FG

Second quarter

U — Ethan Beniga 80 pass from Nolan Henry (Beniga pass from Henry)

Eve — Conner Finnegan 40 FG

U — Beniga 47 run (Ransom kick)

U — Thomas Lampkin 62 pass from Henry (Ransom kick)

U — Siofele 1 run (Beniga run)

U — Siofele 1 run (Ransom kick)

Third quarter

U — Caleb Browning 4 run (Ransom kick)

Fourth quarter

Eve — Kobey Eaton 20 pass from Brandon Bea (Finnegan kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Evergreen: Justin Straup 5-21, Rey Green 8-17, Bea 1-(minus 6), Robert Akil 9-61, Justice Murphy 10-27, Jacob Green 1-0, Eaton 1-0. Union: Siofele 10-70, Beniga 1-47, Caleb Browning 5-72, Lampkin 1-(minus 2), Ian O’Brien 2-31, R.J. Quirante 1-5, Zach Berfanger 1-37, Team 2-(minus 4).

PASSING — Evergreen: Bea 8-17-3-93. Union: Henry 7-10-0-240.

RECEIVING — Evergreen: Murphy 4-53, R. Green 3-20, Eaton 1-20. Union: Tyler Dionne 1-56, Beniga 2-91, Lampkin 2-71, Zach Caston 1-7, Alex Berfanger 1-15.