Yellowjackets' defense leads team to first win this year

Last year, Union and Newton County engaged in a wild 49-45 shootout.

This year, it was a defensive battle but the end result remained the same.

Union used a stingy defense and came away with an 18-13 win over Newton County on Friday night.

Union gets its first win of the season and moves to 1-3 while Newton County falls to 0-4.

After getting blown out last week against Leake Academy, Union coach Jordan Wren said his team did a little soul-searching this week.

“It was a good, old-fashioned defensive battle,” Wren said. “I think we did a good job of challenging our kids after last week. I think they knew the score didn’t indicate who we were as a football team. I think they took last week personally and came out this week and looked more like a grown-up football team. I was really proud of our kids and their effort this week. We really needed that win.”

County drew first blood in the game when they blocked a Union punt on the Yellowjackets first series. But County couldn’t take advantage of the blocked punt and pinned Union at their own 1 for its second series. The Cougars then got a second blocked punt from Logan Evans while collier Mangum scooped it up for an easy touchdown. Taul Clanton hit the PAT and County led 7-0.

But the Yellowjackets didn’t panic and went 73 yards in seven plays and scored on an 8-yard run by Myilan Moore. The PAT was blocked and Newton County held a slim 7-6 lead.

County was then driving before they fumbled at the Union 36 and Zie Buckley came up with the recovery. Union then went 64 yards in 15 plays and scored on a 50yard run by Moore. The try for two failed again and Union held a 12-7 lead.

County put together its best drive of the game as they went 65 yards in seven plays as Juan Brown scored on a 1-yard run with 1:31 left in the first half. The PAT failed and County held a slim 13-12 lead at the half.

“No doubt, our defense played a lot better than they did last week,” Wren said. “Seven of their points were off a blocked punt. They really only put together one drive. I don’t know how many yards they had but it wasn’t a lot. We knew their quarterback was out and didn’t really know what we would see but I thought we just lined up and played football.”

County got the ball to start the second half and turned the ball over on downs at the Union 24. But the Yellowjackets gave the ball right back on an interception by County’s Bryce Jones. But County wasn’t able to convert and the Cougars missed a field goal.

After swapping punt, Union put together a nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive as Moore hit Mason Tucker on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The try for two failed again and Union led 18-13.

Newton County had two more opportunities to retake the lead but turned the ball over on downs on both series for the final margin.

Union had 97 yards passing and 170 yards passing for 267 yards of total offense. Moore was 9-of-15 passing for 97 yards with one TD and one interception. Tucker had five catches for 80 yards while Zie Buckley had four catches for 17 yards. Quinn Harris had 52 yards on 12 carries while Moore had 17 carries for 70 yards with two TDs.

On defense, Aidan Davis led the Yellowjackets with 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. Vaiden Bouder had nine tackles and a forced fumble while Quinn Harris had nine tackles and a sack. Omarri Holliday had five tackles an a fumble recovery while Jordan Smith, Zi Buckley and Moore each had five tackles apiece. Kobe Hutchins and Moonie Harris each had four tackles  while Jon Perry and Jacob Freeman each had two tackles apiece.