Union offense carries Yellowjacket win over Choctaw

Union football coach Jordan Wren likes the offense he has coming back this season.

That offense was on point on Friday night, rolling up 545 yards of offense in a 61-33 win over visiting Choctaw Central in the season opener for both teams.

Wren, who calls the plays on offense, liked what his team did on offense against the Class 4A Warriors.

“I was impressed with what we did on offense,” Wren said. “We didn’t have a turnover and only had two penalties,” Wren said. “You can get sloppy win those first games and I was proud that we didn’t waste a play. We stayed on schedule and were very efficient. Every receiver caught more than one ball and we ran the ball well and gave up just one sack which is good for a first night. And on defense, we went into the night blind and I thought we adjusted well to everything.”

Choctaw got the ball to start the game and Union forced a three-and-out. The Yellowjackets then went 51 yards in seven plays as Xavier Boler scored on a 4-yard run. Vaiden Bouder converted the two-point conversion and Union led 8-0.

The Yellowjackets then recovered a Choctaw fumble and took advantage of the short field with a four-play drive as Harris finished off the drive with a score. Samuel Alawine hit the PAT and Union led 15-0.

The Yellowjackets again used a short field and needed just two plays as U’Darrian Hickman hit Mason Tucker on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Alawine hit the PAT and Union led 22-0 early. 

The Warriors answered back with an eight-play, 65-yard drive to cut the score to 22-7.

The two teams then swapped scores as Boler scored on a 10-yard run and Choctaw scored on a 7-play, 54-yard drive to make the score 28-14.

Harris this answered with a 90-yard kickoff return to extend the lead to 34-14. 

Choctaw scored two more times in the first half, one on a two-play, 64-yard drive and the second on a five-play, 67-yard drive while Boler scored on a 37-yard run and Union led 41-27 at the half. 

“The bad part is we dropped three interceptions and they scored three touchdowns on deflections that should have been picked off,” Wren said. “We can’t put you in a better position and we missed a tackles on a hitch. That’s 28 points that we gave up that we shouldn’t have given up. We played five bad plays and gave up 28 points. That’s what you get when you young kids.”

The Yellowjackets pulled away to start the second half with back-to-back scores, as Hickman finished off a three-play, 52-yard drive and Alawine hit the PAT as Union led 48-27. The Yellowjackets then got another short field as Quinn Harris intercepted a pass and older brother Ky’Yon finished off the drive and Alawine hit the PAT for a 55-27 lead.

Choctaw hit another big play in the passing game to cut the lead to 55-33 before Union finished with a five-play drive as Boler scored to make the score 61-33.

“We had zero cramps and that’s a testament to our kids and how hard they have practiced,” Wren said. “We practiced hard in June and have been fast-paced since the middle of July. I was a little worried about our conditioning because you never really know. I asked the offense in the fourth quarter how they were feeling and they said they could play another half and I was impressed by that. I’m sure there were times  we got a little tired but I never felt like we played tired as a team.”

The Yellowjackets  had a big night on offense as they rushed for 392 yards and seven TDs while throwing for 153 yards for 545 yards of total offense.

Hickmon was 8-of-14 passing for 153 yards and one TD while also rushing for 156 yards on 15 carries and one TD. Boler led the rushing attack with 167 yards and four TDs.

This week’s game

The Yellowjackets will hit the road this week as they travel to Enterprise to take on the Bulldogs. 

Enterprise beat Lake 21-20 last week in a close contest and stuff the Hornets on a two-point attempt late in the fourth to preserve the win. Last year, Union beat Enterprise 27-13 in a division contest to hand the Bulldogs their first regular-season loss in three years.

“We were their first regular-season loss in three years so I’m pretty sure they are going to try to get that payback,” Wren said. “It was a 21-20 game last week against a good Lake team so I expect a good game this week. They will bring that Wing-T offense and shorten the game. It’s tough to prepare for.”