Union County and Northeastern opened the football season last week with the Knights posting a 48-9 victory. 

Northeastern’s roster is impressive with 47 team members listed and an eight member coaching staff. 

Senior Dylan Isaacs took the opening kick and ran 90 yards for a touchdown. 

“They are a good team,” UC coach Joel Hofman said. “And even though the score was in the 40s, I thought our defense was extremely aggressive.” 

Six minutes later, Topher Fritts put a 2-point safety on the scoreboard amid a flurry of confusion and penalties.  With NE still in possession, UC junior linebacker Gunner Dishmond intercepted a NE pass to give UC possession. Two plays later, Matthew Wooley hauled in a  Michael Eversole pass for a Patriot TD and a 9-7 lead.

“We had several drives – one that got us all the way down and couldn’t get it in.  And had a long play called back,” Hofman said. “Then that series of plays where we thought we could go up basically 2 scores early in the game when things didn’t go our way.”

NE scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to up the score to 35-9 but were held scoreless in the third period.  

“I think tonight’s bright spots was the tackling and defense,” Hoffman said. “The offense just needs to do better at hitting their blocks. I think we handled the adversity and went on to the next play   They did a great job of that.”

Both teams came out of the game without injuries although they struggled with cramping.

The Knights added another two TDs in the fourth to run the score up, 48-9. 

 
Lincoln visits Union County this Friday 
“We have Lincoln at home this week,” Hoffman said. “We’ll try to get things corrected. Can’t take them lightly and need to get a win at home under the new lights.”
  
Quarter scores:
Northeastern   14   21   0  13 - 48
Union County     9     0   0    0 -   9

First Quarter
NE - Isaacs 90-yd run, 11:43. Higdon kick.
UC - Safety, 3:33.
UC - Matthew Wooley-Eversole pass. 4:44.
Second Quarter
NE - White 34-yd. Pass from Isaacs. 23:19.  Higdon kick.
NE - Isaacs 37-yd. Run, 10:20. Higdon kick.
NE - Ammerman 26-yd run, 8:33. Higdon kick.
Fourth Quarter
NE - Ammerman 27-yd pass from Isaacs, 9:25. Higdon kick. 
NE - Waters 3-yd. Run, 1:31. Pass failed.
UCo     NE
Total plays                 60      54
First downs                   9      17
Penalties                     4        8
Penalty yards              32     71
Turnovers                    2        3
Rushing yards           133   276
UC-Eversole 10/53, Wolf 17/40, Mullins 4/22, Takara 7/1, Snyder 2/-2, Hollen 1/-35. 
Receiving yards UC-Fritts  3/37, Wooley 2/13, Takara 2/10.
UC Tackle Leaders - Wooley 6-2 assists, Schulte 5-1 assist, Wolf 3-9 assists, Taylor 3, Boyd 2, Fritts 1-3 assists, Snyder 1, Tipton 1-1 assist,  Tom 1-1 assist, Dishmond 1-2 assists, Herring 1. Shepherd 1, Takara 2 assists, Mullins 6 assists, Tidrow 2 assissts.