For the first time this season, the East Webster football team was on the ropes. Down 20-7, Union was knocking on the goal line late in the second quarter.
But the Wolverines came up with a fumble and then scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to take a 27-20 win over Union in a battle of undefeated teams on Friday night.
With the win, East Webster improves to 6-0 on the season and will travel to Calhoun City on Friday to open division play.
It was another big win for the Wolverines, who fought through blown coverages and a big first-half deficit to stay unbeaten.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our kids,” East Webster coach Ron Price said. “The kids are confident and trust each other. We are challenging them to be the guy who makes the next play and when you get an opportunity to make the play. We were nervous about playing such a quality opponent before district play starts. To get down and come back and win, has to give us some confidence going into the Calhoun City game.”
Union got the ball to start the game but fumbled on the first play of the game as EW's Carter Flora recovered the fumble. But the Wolverines failed to find the end zone as Parker Burleson’s field goal attempt failed.
After the two teams traded punts, Union struck first as Kenyon Clay hit Marcus Jones on a 59-yard touchdown pass with 4:43 left in the first quarter to cap off a five-play, 93-yard drive. Henry Thornton’s PAT was good and Union led 7-0.
After an East Webster punt, Union struck quickly. This time, Kenyon Clay ripped off a 42-yard run and Jaylon Buckley scored on an 8-yard run. The PAT failed and Union ld 13-0.
But East Webster responded with a 13-play drive as Steven Betts scored on a 16-yard scramble with 8:37 left in the first half. Burleson’s PAT cut the Union lead to 13-7.
The Yellowjackets hit another big pass play on the ensuing drive as Clay hit Jamarian Harmon on a 50-yard pass play to finish off a six-play, 95-yard drive with 4:14 left in the half. Thornton’s PAT was good and Union led 20-7.
East Webster then fumbled to give Union a short field before the half. Union drove down to the East Union 2-yard line but fumbled a snap that Camron Jennings recovered to end the threat.
“If they sore right there, it would have been difficult to come back in the second half,” Price said. “But we were able to go in 20-7 and told our kids that they had done it to themselves. We had two possessions where receivers were open and we didn’t get them the ball. We had two defensive breakdowns and they score on two long touchdown passes. But getting that stop before the half was huge. Then we were able to come out and score quick and it was a different game from there.”
East Webster got the ball to str the second half and immediately got a 43-yard run from Tyrik Pittman. Betts then scored on a 42-yard run with 11:38 left in the third. Burleson’s PAT cut the Union lead to 20-14.
The defenses settled in for the remainder of the third quarter but East Webster was able to put together another long scoring drive as they went 70 yards in 13 plays as Betts hit Pittman on a 16-yard pass play with 7:55 left in the third. Burleson’s PAT was good and East Webster led 21-20.
“We had a big second half and Steven ran the ball well,” Price said. “But Steven was the first one to give the offensive line all the credit. Our offensive line coach, Brandon Haynes wasn’t able to be at the game because his father-in-law died so the offensive line dedicated the game to him. We had two 13 or 14-play scoring drives and that’s impressive to be able to string together than many plays and be able to score touchdowns.”
East Webster stopped Union late in the fourth and turned them over on downs at their own 29. Betts then ripped of a 27-yard run and eventually scored on a 2-yard run with 1:15 left to play. Burleson’s PAT failed for the final margin of 27-20.
Union was able to run nine plays but East held them out of the end zone to take the win.
“They were averaging 42 points a game and for our defense to shut them out in the second half was huge,” Price said. “I”m so proud of our kid and our team. It was the first time we have been down by that many points and to be able to dig out of that and win against a good Unit team says a lot about our kids at East Webster.”
The Wolverines had 338 yards of total offense as Betts accounted for all but 55 yards. Betts was 6-of-12 passing for 63 yards and rushed for 220 yards on 27 carries. Pittman had 55 yards rushing on five carries.
On defense, Kobe Smith had a big game with 13 tackles, including 10 solo tackles. Ethan Roberts had seven tackles while Isaac Jones had six tackles. Jon Cunningham, Luke McKee and Conner Shurden each had five tackles while Kendell Carden and Caleb Massey each had four tackles apiece. Shurden also had an interception.
