By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Oct. 30, 2004
UNION Union shook off a lethargic first half with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns en route to a 22-14 Region 3-1A win over Puckett Friday night.
The Yellowjackets improved to 9-1 both overall and in league play before taking next week off. Union will host a first-round Class 1A playoff game on Nov. 12.
Puckett fell to 5-4 both overall and in 3-1A.
Union, which was outgained 130-74 and held to just two first downs in the first half, outgained the Wolves 220-42 in the second half.
There were no volatile halftime speeches to spark the turnaround.
Union began working on the middle of the Wolves' defense in the third quarter, putting together scoring drives of 80 and 73 yards to turn a 14-6 halftime deficit into a 22-14 lead.
Fullback Jess Brantley did much of the damage, carrying nine times for 81 yards in the quarter. He set the tone for the second half with a 49-yard burst on the first play of the third quarter.
Brantley had 104 of his 107 rushing yards in the second half as the Jackets exploited the Wolves' inner defense.
Union tailback Anthony Johnson started the comeback when he scored from 10 yards out on a Statue of Liberty around left end on fourth-and-six with 8:25 remaining in the third quarter to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Quarterback Jacob Casey kept around right end and fought his way across the goal line for a two-point conversion that tied the contest at 14-14.
Brantley stopped Puckett quarterback Wilbert Lee for a 7-yard loss on third-and-1 at the Wolves' 38 to set the stage for Union's second touchdown of the third quarter.
The Jackets covered 73 yards in nine plays with fullback Nickos Harris rumbling five yards up the middle for a touchdown with 2:23 to go in the third period. Johnson ran up the middle for a two-point conversion and the final 22-14 margin.
An interception by Jamelle Blalock at the Union 9 halted Puckett's next possession. The Wolves reached the Union 39 early in the third quarter only to have Kenny Slaughter pick off a pass to end the threat.
After a scoreless first quarter in which Johnson carried on all seven of Union's offensive plays, the Jackets scored the game's first touchdown on a 2-yard run by Harris with 4:17 to go in the first half. Brantley set up the score with a fumble recovery at the Puckett 4 after Union had squandered an interception by Blalock and 13-yard return to the Wolves 8. Johnson was thrown for a 6-yard loss on fourth-and-goal at the 2.
Following Harris' touchdown, the Wolves' Dwight McDougal blocked Demond McDonald's extra point.
Puckett took to the air to score a pair of touchdowns in the last four minutes of the half. The first came on a 50-yard pass from Lee to Matthew Willis with 3:44 to go in the second period. McDougal's kick gave the Wolves a 7-6 lead.
An interception by Willis put Puckett back in business at the Union 46. Two plays later, Lee hit Larry Pittman with a short pass which turned into a 39-yard score after numerous missed tackles on the play. McDougal's extra point put the Wolves up 14-6 with 2:18 left in the half.
Johnson finished with 88 yards on 19 carries. Casey kept 11 times for 55 yards.