Union trounces Sebastopol 56-21 in big regional win

Sebastopol coach Keith Brown called Friday night’s matchup with Union one of the biggest games in school history.

But for the Yellowjackets, it was just another game in front of a big crowd.

The Yellowjackets scored 35 unanswered points to finish the game and take a 56-21 win over the Bobcats on Friday night.

Union improves to 8-1 on the season and will host Philadelphia on Thursday night with a chance to win the Division 4-2A title.

Union coach Jordan Wren said the Yellowjackets were prepared for the big-game atmosphere.

“We just wore them down and had the luxury of not having to throw the football,” Wren said. “We were turnover free on offense and had a kickoff return and an interception return. But I thought the atmosphere had no affect on us. I think we played all of those big-crowd games earlier in the year and are used to that. It was a really good environment and should be another good one this week. I thought Ky’Yon had a really good night. He did a lot of things and scored four times. And they ran two reverses and he stopped both of those. He did everything for us on Friday night. I think we are playing well considering all of the injuries we have had.”

Sebastopol got the first break of the game as they recovered the opening kickoff at the Union 25. The Bobcats scored six plays later as Andrius McDougle scored on a 13-yard run. Noah Atkinson hit the PAT and Sebastopol held a 7-0 lead.

Union answered right back as Xavier Boler returned the ensuing kick 68 yards for  a touchdown. Samuel Alawine hit the PAT and Union tied the score at 7-7. 

After a Sebastopol punt, Union went 67 yards in six plays. A big 35-yard pass to Ky’Yon Harris put Union deep in Sebastopol territory. Harris then finished off the drive with a 10-yard run. Alawine’s PAT failed and Union led 13-7.

After another Sebastopol punt, Union went 74 yards in two plays as U’Darrian Hickman hit Nate Boone on a 71-yard touchdown pass. Hickman ran in the two-point conversion and the Yellowjackets led 21-7 late in the first quarter. 

Sebastopol answered with a two-play drive and McDougle scored on a 32-yard run while Atkinson hit the PAT to cut the score to 21-14. 

The Bobcats recovered the onside kick and then went 14 plays and scored on a 1-yard run by Jake Kimble after McDougle went out with an ankle injury. Atkinson hit the PAT to tie the game at 21-21.

But Union answered with two scores in the second half to take a comfortable halftime lead as Hickman scored on runs of 2 and 7 yards. Alawine hit both PAT and Union led 35-21 at the half. 

“Union is really good,” Sebastopol coach Keith Brown said. “They have weapons all over the field. If you take away the outside guys, they are big enough up front to just line up and run it over you and that’s what they did to us. The kids and fans were upset but it’s just one game and we have to flush it and move on. Now if Union will go ahead and beat Philadelphia, we will be the No. 2 seed and host a first-round playoff game if we go take care of business on Thursday night.”

Sebastopol got the ball to start the second half but went three and out. Harris then scored on Union’s first play of the half on a 61-yard scamper. Alawine hit the PAT and Union led 42-21.

Harris got in the end zone again when he intercepted a Sebastopol pass and took it 23 yards for a touchdown. Alawine’s PAT gave Union a 49-21 lead.

After another Sebastopol punt, Union went 61 yards in nine plays as Harris scored on a 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Alawine’s PAT gave Union a 56-21 lead to start the running clock.

Union had 124 yards passing and 253 yards rushing for 377 yards of total offense. Hickman was 5-of-8 passing with one TD. Boler led the rushing attack with 144 yards on 15 carries while Harris had 76 yards and three TDs on three carries. 

On defense, Cameron Hickmon led the Yellowjackets with nine tackles while Vaiden Border had eight tackles. Aidan Davis, Zi Buckley and Omari Holliday each had five tackles while Harris and Hayden Dolan each had four tackles apiece. Kale Grayson had three tackles while Keon Hutchins, Cody Whittington and Donovan Boler each had two tackles.