By By Jim Luke/special to The Star
October 26, 2002
NANIH WAIYA Fans who braved the rain were treated to an intense contest as the Union Yellowjackets came out on top 35-28 over the Nanih Waiya Warriors in Region 3-1A football here Friday night.
The game came down to a final drive by the Warriors that ended on a fourth-down interception by Union senior Ray Harper to ice the game for the Yellowjackets.
Union got on the scoreboard first with a 15-yard run by Anthony Johnson following a fumble recovery by Harper at the Nanih Waiya 32. The extra point attempt was wide and the Yellowjackets held a 6-0 lead with 11:27 left in the first quarter.
In a manor typical of both teams in the game, Nanih Waiya came roaring right back with a 68-yard drive capped on a one-yard plunge by Warrior quarterback Trevor Stokes. The play was set up by a 41-yard pass from Stokes to David Frey. Blake Jernigan was true with the extra point to give the Warriors a 7-6 advantage with 5:32 to play in the opening quarter.
The Jackets responded by driving the ball 74 yards on their next possession behind the running of Johnson, who had runs of eight, four, 18 and two yards on the drive, and a 25-yard pass from Quincy Patrick to Derrick Harris. Harper capped the drive on a five-yard run. The two point conversion failed.
Two possessions later, the Warriors regained the lead when Stokes hit Brent Blackwell on a 13-yard pass with 5:28 left in the second quarter. Jernigan hit the extra point for a 14-12 led for the Warriors.
Frey recovered a Union fumble three plays later to set up the Warriors at their own 41-yard line. LaCoary Ward scored on a 21-yard run with 2:59 left in the first half to give the Warriors a 21-12 lead.
Union bounced back after halftime when Patrick broke free on a 72-yard touchdown run to get the Yellowjackets fired up and back in the ball game. Johnson completed the scoring with the two-point conversion run.
Darnell Temple recovered a Nanih Waiya fumble at the Warrior 28-yard line to set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Yellowjackets. Johnson scored on a 10-yard run with 20 seconds left in the third quarter to give Union the lead. He added the two-point conversion to give Union at 28-21 advantage.
Nikos Harris then picked off a pass to set Union right back in business at the Warrior 17-yard line. Johnson hit Harris on a six-yard pass off a fake field goal play. Patrick kicked the extra point to give Union a 35-21 advantage with 10 minutes left in the game. But the Warriors would not quit.
Starting at their own 38-yard line, Nanih Waiya drove down the field to pull within a touchdown when Darron Hickmon scored from six yards out with 6:11 left in the game. Jernigan hit the extra point to make the score 35-28 in favor of Union.
The Warriors got new life when Coty VanDevender recovered a fumble at the Nanih Waiya 45-yard line to give the Warriors one last chance in the game.
The Warriors drove as deep at the Union 15-yard line before a pressure defense forced Harper's interception with less than a minute to play.
The victory gives the Yellowjackets a 6-1 mark in division play and a 6-3 record overall.
The loss dropped the Warriors to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the division.