Yellow Jackets score big win against SE Lauderdale for Homecoming

It was a very happy homecoming for the Yellow Jacket Nation.

Union returned to its winning ways while taking a 40-0 victory over Southeast Lauderdale in the first Region 5-3A game for both teams.

Quarterback Kenyon Clay was back from injury. He put Union on the scoreboard at the 4:10 mark in the first quarter when he ran five yards for a touchdown that signaled he had returned to lead the Jackets. The kick was unsuccessful and Union led 6-0.

With 42 seconds left in the first quarter, Ky’Yon Harris scored on a 10-yard touchdown run. Eli Rigdon kicked the extra point. At the end of the first quarter, the Jackets held a 13-0 lead.

Much of the second quarter was a defensive battle between the two teams. Then with 5:53 to go in the second quarter, Clay threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Harris. Clay also ran in the two-point conversion after the previous touchdown, giving Union a 21-0 lead.

Clay was not finished with his scoring onslaught. He ran for a 47-yard touchdown for touchdown. The PAT by Rigdon was good and Union led 28-0 Southeast Lauderdale at the half.

The Jackets took the second-half kickoff. They drove the ball down the field with a combination of passing and running plays. Clay capped the drive off with another rushing touchdown. The extra point try was unsuccessful and Union led 34-0.

With 3:55 remaining in the third quarter, the Jackets took advantage of a short field and William Hughlett ran 17 yards for a touchdown. The extra point try failed and the Jackets led 40-0. There was no scoring by either team in the fourth quarter.

The Yellow Jackets dominated the stat sheet. Clay completed 5-of-9 passes for 63 yards and threw for a touchdown. He rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns.

Carlos Hickmon led the Jacket running attack with 11 carries for 98 yards. Ky’Yon Harris rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a 17-yard touchdown pass. A.J. Wilson added 54 yards rushing, while William Hughlett ran for 24 yards and a touchdown. The Jackets had 398 yards of offense. The Jackets' defensive efforts held the Tigers to 100 yards of offense for the game.

The next opponent for the Jackets will be the undefeated Bulldogs of Enterprise.