Mason Soviak (61) of North Union attempts to reel in Jared Schaefer of Clear Fork during a football game Friday at North Union High School. The Wildcats’ defense struggled with the colts running game giving up 220 yards during the 45-13 loss.
(Photo submitted)
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To use the words of North Union head football coach Nick Hajjar, so many teams like to “hang their hat on the run.” When two teams that like to run the ball meet up on the gridiron it can make for some impressive stats. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that was not the case during their 45-13 loss to state-ranked Clear Fork on Friday.
The only running stat they could muster was negative one yard out of 20 rushing attempts. The good bit of news is that North Union’s starting quarterback Anthony Padovano completed 15-of-39 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
“I thought there were some throws he made really well,” said Hajjar.
The bad news started on the opening drive for the Wildcats. North Union stuck to its guns and tried to run the ball. After another unsuccessful run up the middle, Padovano dropped back to throw the ball for the first time.
The offering fell incomplete, which brought out the punt team.
Blake Dinsmore of Clear Fork snagged the kick at the Colts’ 12-yard-line and weaved his way through the Wildcats’ punt team to put the first points on the board with only 1:30 off the clock.
Sloan Bowman kicked it though the uprights for an early 7-0 lead.
The Cats continued to struggle offensively with similar play calling of a run, run and pass to no avail. This time, the punt team was able to contain the runner and bring out the Colts’ offense for the first time in the game.
NU’s defense struggled to contain Clear Fork’s jet sweep as the Colts drove 46 yards on seven plays to put six more points on the scoreboard. Bowman booted another PAT for a 14-0 lead.
The Wildcats’ woes continued when Padovano’s pass was plucked out of the air by Clear Fork’s Jared Schafer.
Schafer returned the interception to the eight-yard-line before the Cats could bring him down. The short field made quick work for the Colts’ third touchdown in the first quarter. Bowman added an extra point to make it 21-0 at the end of the stanza.
The second quarter saw a change in the Wildcats’ game plan.
With the run game not working, Hajjar decided to try his luck in the air. The move seemed to pay off as the Cats picked up their initial first down of the game on a 45-yard Padovano pass to Drake Price.
The play set up a touchdown pass to Carson Smith from seven yards.
Price booted the PAT to make it 21-7.
North Union wasn’t done throwing the ball. As the clock ticked down to the half, the Cats continued their passing trend, covering 55 yards on six plays, all in the air.
NU’s second touchdown was a 24-yarder to Smith in the back of the end zone.
Price struggled with the kick, booting it low to put the score at 21-13 by halftime.
The good times were short-lived for North Union.
The Colts took total control of the game in the second half by scoring on two quick plays to go up 28-13 after a successful field goal.
A shift in the Colt’s defense also brought an end to the ease of movement through the air for the Wildcats. NU went through a quick three-and-out on its opening offensive possession in the second half.
“Any good staff on their side will make adjustments,” said Hajjar. “When they got us into throwing mode that (a 3-4 front) is typical adjustment. I thought at times they handled it well and at other times they didn’t.
“At times we were able to do some things in the air and at other times we weren’t,” he said. “Obviously we need to be able to run the ball. That’s who we are and we’ve got to get better moving forward.”
Once the air attack dried up for the Cats, they switched back to what they know, which is running the ball.
The move didn’t work out, however, as they where unable to find the end zone at anytime during the second half.
The Colts, on the other hand, used multiple weapons to make three more trips to the end zone and put the game out of reach.
Despite the numbers on the scoreboard, Hajjar believes the season is young and the game can be something from which to learn.
“It is only Week 4,” said Hajjar. “I told our guys you’ve got to learn from it. Wins or loses, with the schedule we play you’ve got to have a short-term memory because the next week is going to be just as challenging.
“We go on the road again against a very good team new to our league and we’ll see what we can do.”
The Wildcats will take a 2-2 record on the road next week to face MOAC newcomer Ontario.