Porter Drake runs Mountain View to 42-27 win over Union

Mountain View got its first win of the season last week with Cash Cook throwing the ball.

This week, the Thunder went to the ground attack and Porter Drake responded.

The senior running back rushed for 224 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown to propel Mountain View a 42-27 win over Union on Friday at McKenzie Stadium.

“The (offensive) line was just a beast, and the holes were opening up,” Drake said. “And we could just get the yards, It was great.

Drake’s running set up Mountain View’s first two touchdowns — a 5-yard touchdown run by Jaden Brown and a 22-yard pass from Cash Cook to Akili Kamau.

Then Drake got his only touchdown in the second quarter to put Mountain View up 21-0. He set up that score with a 48-yard run.

“Porter was just really explosive for us tonight,” Mountain View coach Aaron Hart said. “He did a great job, and our line was doing a great job as well. I don’t know, just everything was clicking. Our offensive line coaches are fantastic. I think I give all the credit to them and that line. But Porter is just a different animal.”

JJ Thompson’s 47-yard touchdown reception gave the Thunder a 28-7 lead at halftime.

With Union focused on Drake, Cook attacked through the air in the second half, hitting Aiden Nicholson and Thompson for touchdown passes as the Thunder opened up a 42-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Union made things interesting late. After cutting the game to 42-21 on a Rylan Stevison touchdown pass from Blake McDonald.

The Titans recovered the ensuing kickoff, leading to Chase Lofton’s 2-yard touchdown run, and the Titans were down 42-27 with 6:21.

Then Mou Leitoa intercepted a Thunder pass at Mountain View 38.

But the Thunder defense got a stop, then Mountain View ran out the clock by giving the ball Drake, who had a busy night playing most every down on defense and offense.

“Yeah, we have to work our depth,” Hart said. “It’s good to have kids like (Drake) with that kind of heart.”

Not that Drake was complaining.

“It’s just the team,” he said. “We’re all together. From the start, we were hyped up. And we had the camaraderie. The line was just going crazy. It’s all for my line. They’re just some dogs, and I appreciated them so much. … Yeah, I’m defenitely gassed. I’m just excited to get the win. It was super fun.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW 42, UNION 27

Mt. View 7 21 7 7—42

Union 0 7 7 13—27

First quarter

MV — Jaden Brown 5 run (Owen Purvis kick)

Second quarter

MV — Akili Kamau 22 pass from Cash Cook (Purvis kick)

MV — Preston Drake 1 run (Purvis kick)

U — Chase Lofton 27 pass from Blake McDonald (Canaan Moore kick)

MV — JJ Thompson 47 pass from Cook (Purvis kick)

Third quarter

MV — Aiden Nicholson 24 pass from Cook (Purvis kick)

U — Ben Hallead 3 pass from McDonald (Moore kick)

Fourth quarter

MV — JJ Thompson 36 pass from Cook (Purvis kick)

U — Ryan Stevison 10 pass from McDonald (Moore kick)

U — Lofton 2 run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Mountain View: Porter Drake 25-224, Jaden Brown 6-4, JJ Thompson 6-57, Cash Cook 5-20, Dallas Hobbs 1-6, team 1-(-1). Union: Hunter Gibson 11-51, Alex Olson 9-41, Chase Lofton 4-15, team 1-(-1).

PASSING — Mountain View: Cash Cook 9-14-1-194. Union: Blake McDonald 18-30-1-159.

RECEIVING — Mountain View: JJ Thomspon 2-83, Aiden Nicholson 3-39, Porter Drake 1-16, Jaden Brown 1-19, Felix Cuevas 1-15, Akili Kamau 1-22. Union: Jordan Warren 6-61, Chase Lofton 3-61, Rylan Stevison 6-49, Ben Hallead 5-25, Noah McBroom 1-6, Alex Olson 2-(-1), Hunter Gibson 1-(-2).