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Hawks bow to Union City in season opener
By Levi Wicker
Special to CNO
Includes balance of Friday night scores
Union City - It was sloppy play from both teams Friday night that
ultimately saw special teams becoming the deciding factor in Union
City’s victory over Mississinawa Valley, 34-12.
Mississinawa Valley took the opening possession and from the very
beginning it was obvious that the Blackhawks were going to have to work
for every yard that they could get.
The Union City defense was relentless in their pursuit all night. The
Hawks senior quarterback, Brandon Byers, was dancing around all night
trying to elude the Union City defense in an effort to keep his team
going, converting on third down and long on the opening drive with a
long scramble and then yet again, later in the drive completing a
thirty yard touchdown pass giving the Hawks an early 6-0 lead.
But as the outcome of the night would have it the Union City special
teams answered right back on the kickoff as James Antonoglou returned
the kickoff seventy five yards for an Indians touchdown tying the game
at 6-6.
The very next Hawk possession, Byers would throw an interception to
senior defensive back James Antonoglou, but the Indians would hand the
ball right back when attempting to go for it on fourth down and failing
to do so.
Again the Blackhawks gave the ball away on their next possession as
Byers again would throw an ill-advised pass that would find its way
into a group of Indians.
Union City took clear advantage of the takeaway and marched quickly
down the field ending the drive on an impressive 34 yard touchdown
scamper from James Antonoglou, putting the Indians up, 14-6.
Again the Blackhawk offense could do nothing, punting the ball away to
the Indians. The Indians would capitalize on the possession with a nice
fifteen yard pickup on fourth down by James Antonoglou, and three plays
later sophomore tailback Mason Wine got himself a thirty yard run
putting them in the red-zone. Senior quarterback Grant Shoemaker took
full advantage of the running game with a play action pass in the
end-zone to junior tight-end, Tre Burton for a twenty yard touchdown
pass and grab putting the Indians up 20-6 over the Blackhawks at the
half.
Union City opened the second half with the ball but quickly gave
possession over to the Blackhawks when the exchange between center and
quarterback was mishandled and recovered by Blackhawks senior
linebacker Austin Rust.
Quarterback Brandon Byers dropped back to pass, but as it was most of
the night no one was open so he tucked it and ran for a first down
inside the Indians twenty but fatigue settled in as he had to come off
the field with an injury. A few plays later, backup quarterback Hunter
Coning (sophomore) ran a quarterback draw up the middle for a seven
yard touchdown strike pulling the Blackhawks to within eight 20-12.
But much like the night was, even though both teams struggled, along
with having many turnovers, the difference in this game was the special
teams’ play of the Indians.
Again, the Indians returned the kickoff all the way down to the Hawks
three yard line this time by sophomore tailback Mason Wine, and on the
next play Wine finished what he started by getting those three yards
for another score giving Union City a 28-12 lead.
The Indians never looked back from there.
A three and out on the Hawks next possession gave the Indians good
field position again as they marched down the field only to fumble the
ball in the end-zone and allow the Blackhawks to recover it.
A few possessions of sloppy play went back and forth between the teams
until the Blackhawks had to punt the ball yet again, and one time too
many as James Antonoglou put the final nail in the coffin take the punt
seventy yards for another touchdown giving the Indians a 34-12 lead
over the Blackhawks which ultimately was the final outcome.
Turnover plagued both teams, but the Indians were able to get more big
plays from their offense and special teams rolling to an easy, though
troublesome victory.
Friday Night
Football Scores (Week 1)
Eaton 47, Greenville 6 (0-1)
Bradford 48 (1-0), Ansonia 12 (0-1)
Arcanum 28 (1-0), Preble Shawnee 7
Union City 34, MV 12 (0-1)
Celina 46, Versailles 26 (0-1)
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