Union runs away from Spanaway Lake, 49-7

The Union Titans had it easy in the first quarter Friday night, and then they made it look easy all night long at McKenzie Stadium.

Union scored on short touchdown drives of 43, 26 and 14 yards to take a 21-0 lead, then strolled to a 49-7 victory over Spanaway Lake in a non-league football game.

Caleb Browning, Tyler Dionne, and R.J. Quirante each scored two touchdowns for the Titans. Quarterback Nolan Henry threw two touchdown passes.

The Union defensive line destroyed Spanaway Lake’s will, holding the Sentinels to 11 yards rushing in the first half. Union, ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press’ Class 4A poll, improved to 4-0.

“That first game against Federal Way, we started off slow. Ever since we’ve been playing as a team, it’s going easy now,” said Kyle Vermeulen, who opened the second-half scoring with a 64-yard interception return in the third quarter. “We’re all making big plays when we’re all doing our jobs.”

Browning scored on two 1-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter.

Dionne caught a 14-yard TD pass from Nolan Henry in the first quarter, then the two connected for a 9-yard scoring pass midway through the second quarter for a 28-0 lead.

Quirante’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 35-0.

Spanaway Lake avoided the shutout with a 4-yard touchdown run from Lakiem Williams just before the end of the first half.

The Titans got the defensive touchdown early in the third, then Quirante broke a couple tackles en route to a 21-yard touchdown run.

Union outgained the Sentinels 327 yards to 166.

Senior defensive ilneman Austin Holloway said this season is starting to feel familiar. A few years back as a freshman, the Union freshmen team went undefeated.

“It’s starting to feel like that again,” Holloway said.

UNION 49, SPANAWAY LAKE 7

S. Lake 0 7 0 0—7

Union 21 14 14 0—49

First quarter

U — Caleb Browning 1 run (Jack Bauer kick)

U — Tyler Dionne 14 pass from Nolan Henry (Bauer kick)

U — Browning 1 run (Bauer kick)

Second quarter

U — Dionne 9 pass from Henry (Bauer kick)

U — R.J. Quirante 3 run (Bauer kick)

SL — Lakiem Williams 4 run (Thomas Maia kick)

Third quarter

U — Kyle Vermeulen 64 interception return (Bauer kick)

U — Quirante 21 run (Connor Culp kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Spanaway Lake: Williams 12-34, Braxton Blue 2-(minus 5), Kyle Mason 8-15, Zachary Aube 3-(minus 12), Reggie Bell 3-9, Caleb Wellons 3-(minus 1), Ellis Tesorio 1-5, Demarquis Bell 1-4, Rock Gray 1-(minus 5), Team 1-(minus 24). Union: Browning 15-86, Alex Berfanger 4-52, Henry 2-10, Quirante 3-28, Abe Smith 3-30, Tommy Strassenberg 1-5, Jordan Lawson 4-(minus 5).

PASSING — Spanaway Lake: Aube 17-23-2-137, Blue 0-1-1-0, Gray 1-2-0-9. Union: Henry 6-13-0-71, Lawson 4-5-0-96.

RECEIVING — Spanaway Lake: Kevin Utley 8-56, Leroy Lawrence 1-6, Bell 2-14, Williams 2-32, Wellons 4-33, Dominick Klockeman 1-5. Union: Zack Lamirata 1-4, Dionne 3-31, Berfanger 1-23, Parker Leach 1-13, Nate Kuratli 1-54, Kai Gamble 1-12, Smith 1-4, Marco Sotelo 1-26.