Union rally falls just short in wild 42-41 loss to Puyallup

PUYALLUP – Union and Puyallup have faced each other on the football field three times in the past 53 weeks.

After Saturday’s thriller, who wouldn’t want a fourth clash?

Puyallup escaped with a 42-41 win at Sparks Stadium in a game that saw Union nearly rally from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit.

It came down to the final play.

Union quarterback CJ Jordan threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tobias Merriweather. It came on an untimed down after offsetting penalties gave the Titans a second chance after the clock wound to zero on an incomplete pass.

Union went for two. Jordan scrambled on a keeper and reached the end zone. But a block in the back resulted in a 15-yard penalty.

Union then elected to kick the point-after from 35 yards, but it sailed wide left.

Union’s players looked ahead as Puyallup players stormed the field behind them.

“We’ll see them again and it will be different,” Jordan said.

Last season, Union (3-2) beat Puyallup (4-1) twice by seven points – first in the regular season and again in the 4A state semifinals on the Titans’ trek to the championship.

After Saturday’s comeback, the Titans know never to count themselves out.

“I think we learned that we’re always in the game, no matter what,” Merriweather said. “We came out on the losing end, but that’s a good lesson for us.”

Jordan, who was knocked out of Union’s previous game with a concussion, showed no rust. He bolted for a 57-yard touchdown on the Titans’ game-opening drive, one of his three rushing touchdowns Saturday.

But Puyallup’s offense owned the first half, scoring touchdowns on its first four drives and racking up 293 yards of offense.

Union pulled within 28-14 just before halftime on Jordan’s second touchdown run, a 10-yarder.

But Puyallup seemingly had the game in control when it took a 35-14 lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter.

Union responded with two quick scoring drives, capped by Vinh Luong’s 9-yard TD run and Jordan’s third rushing touchdown.

Then Puyallup gave Union the break it needed.

The Vikings let the kickoff roll toward the sideline near the goal line. Union’s Liam Boyce was first to the live ball, recovering at the 3-yard line.

One play later, running back Isiah Jones was in the end zone. The game was tied at 35 with 5:33 to play.

“It was a dogfight,” Jordan said. “It’s always a battle. No matter what, we don’t quit. That’s what grit is.”

Puyallup went back to its straightforward rushing attack, grinding its way down the field. Then the Vikings got tricky, taking a 42-35 lead on a 29-yard halfback pass from Kyler Johnson to Jordan Dwyer with 2:25 to play.

But Union wasn’t done. Merriweather returned the kickoff to the 45. Jordan then found Jake Bowen for a 31- yard pass to get to Puyallup’s 22.

A pass to Merriweather got Union inside the 10, setting the stage for the Titans’ final shot. After a run for a loss and two incompletions, fourth down arrived.

On the untimed down, Jordan scrambled to his right, then fired a sharp pass to Merriweather.

“I had to make a play,” Jordan said. “The pocket broke down. I got out and had to find Tobias in the back of the end zone.”

“Big time players make big-time plays,” Merriweather said of Jordan.

Key players

CJ Jordan – The Union quarterback was a dual threat, rushing for 113 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries. He also threw for 210 yards.

Tobias Merriweather – The 6-foot-4 Union receiver had seven catches for 120 yards, including a 58-yard bomb from Jordan in the third quarter.

Isaiah Dickerson – After missing most of the season with injury, the Puyallup running back had 94 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Quotable

“It could be 50-0, we know we’re never going to quit. We’re going to do whatever we can to get back in the game.” Union quarterback CJ Jordan.

PUYALLUP 42, UNION 41

Union 7 7 0 27 – 41

Puyallup 14 14 7 7 – 42

First quarter

U – CJ Jordan 57 run (Sonny Pitts kick)

P – Isaiah Dickerson 7 run (Hayden Lovett kick)

P – Kyler Johnson 1 run (Lovett kick)

Second quarter

P – Dickerson 1 run (Lovett kick)

P – Johnson 7 run (Lovett kick)

U – Jordan 10 run (Pitts kick)

Third quarter

P – Jordan Dwyer 8 pass from Luke Holcomb (Lovett kick)

Fourth quarter

U – Vinh Luong 9 run (Pitts kick)

U – Jordan 2 run (Pitts kick)

U – Isaiah Jones 3 run (Pitts kick)

P – Dwyer 29 pass from Johnson (Lovett kick)

U – Tobias Merriweather 8 pass from Jordan (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Union: Isaiah Jones 9-24, CJ Jordan 11-113, Marques Cantu 4-6, Vihn Luong 8-47. Puyallup: Isaiah Dickerson 16-94, Kyler Johnson 17-71, Luke Holcomb 6-35, Joseph Dwyer 1-7, Danny Uluilakepa 2-16.

PASSING – Union: CJ Jordan 18-25-1-210, Alex Gehrmann 1-2-0-8. Puyallup: Luke Holcomb 18-27-0-212, Kyler Johnson 1-1-0-29.

RECEIVING – Union: Kellen Milliken 2-23, Tobias Merriweather 7-120, Jake Bowen 2-43, Marques Cantu 6-64, Vinh Luong 1-(-3). Puyallup: Jordan Dwyer 9-139, Charm Pommacha 1-15, Jaiden Tapec 3-24, Isaac Clark 1-7, Angel Sanchez 3-43, Kyler Johnson 1-8, Joseph Dwyer 2-(-1).