Union outlasts Heritage 35-29

The Union Titans outlasted the Heritage Timberwolves, 35-29 at McKenzie Stadium behind 147 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries by freshman running back JoJo Siofele.

The Timberwolves (2-4, 0-4 Class 4A Greater St. Helens League) were on a run of 12 consecutive quarters without a touchdown coming into Friday’s tilt against the Titans (4-2, 2-1).

But moving the ball was not an issue for the either team on a dreary night at McKenzie.

After Union’s Siofele scored one of his four touchdowns on the night, the Timberwolves answered right back with a touchdown pass from Gavin Lee to Race Bynum.

But as the night wore on, there was too much Siofele and too many costly penalties for the Timberwolves to overcome.

“Our line did pretty good. They blocked well,” said Siofele, who ran for 230 yards the previous week. “It’s just hard work. I’m very comfortable in my game, I’m confident. But it’s all up to my line, give credit to them.”

Union’s offense was like a buzzsaw against the Timberwolves defense for much of the game, led by Siofele.

However, they were caught a little bit off guard by Heritage’s balanced attack. Lee was spreading the ball around and the Heritage offense used the pressure created by Union against them in screen passes.

The Timberwolves also had success on the ground with Lee and the running back duo of Lafi Sosene and Kalani Umiamaka.

Union was riding Siofele much of the game, but quarterback Jordan Lawson connected on a deep pass play to Keithen Shepard which gave the Titans new life in the second quarter.

“That definitely picked up our intensity,” Siofele said. “I mean, yeah — from our last plays we didn’t do so well.”

Heritage had a nice drive that got them deep into Union territory near the end of the quarter, down by eight points. But the Timberwolves missed a 32-yard field goal attempt that at the end of the half.

Heritage received the second half kick off, but the Union defense slowed down the Timberwolves’ running game — and Lee in particular.

After rushing for 62 yards on 13 carries in the first half, Lee did not gain any more yards the rest of the game despite carrying the ball 11 more times.

As the game went on, the Union offensive line continued to melt the game away by handing it to Siofele.

Heritage made a run with a safety and two touchdowns late in the second half, giving them a chance to win the game — provided they recover an onside kick. But the Titans’ “hands” team did their job, holding on to the ball and the victory.

UNION 35, HERITAGE  29

1234F

Heritage 13 0 2 14 29

Union 14 7 7 7 35

First Quarter

U –– JoJo Siofele 1 run (Connor Culp kick) (Siofele 76 yard return)

H –– Race Bynum 6 pass from Gavin Lee (Kick blocked)

U –– Siofele 6 run (Culp kick)

H –– Tashiem Hurse 38 pass from Lee (Kyle Hood kick)

Second Quarter

U –– Keithen Shepard 51 pass from Jordan Lawson (Culp kick)

Third Quarter

U –– Siofele 1 run (Culp kick)

H –– Safety

Fourth Quarter

H –– Lee 1 run (Hood kick)

U –– Siofele 10 run (Culp kick)

H –– Kalani Umiamaka 1 run (Hood kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING –– Heritage, Umiamaka 15-72, Lee 24-62, Lafi Sosene 8-43, Hurse 1-5, Nickolas Somboun 1-15. Union, Siofele 26-147, Adrian Andrade 4-16, Rey Green 1-4, Shepard 1-(-3), Lawson 5-9.

PASSING –– Heritage, Lee 15-21-1-173, Somboun 1-1-0-5. Union, Lawson 9-12-1-174.

RECEIVING –– Bynum 5-33, Hurse 3-53, Somboun 3-34, Umiamaka 2-28, Sosene 1-5, Tyler VanBuskirk 2-18.  Union, Shepard 3-80, Nate Kuratli 2-35, Siofele 1-32, Green 1-6, Kai Gamble 1-10.