North Union’s fullback Ethan Young (21) leaps over a fellow Wildcat on his way into the endzone in the team’s 35-7 route over Benjamin Logan Friday night. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
With lightning-like speed, North Union scored 21 first-quarter points and went on to a 35-7 Central Buckeye Conference victory at Benjamin Logan on Friday.
After just 10 offensive snaps, the Wildcats (6-1 overall, 2-0 CBC) scored three touchdowns.
Holding Benjamin Logan (2-5, 0-2) to a three-and-out to start the game, North Union needed just three plays to get on the board.
Starting from the NU 21, Ethan Young opened with a six-yard gain and Owen Davis followed with a 22-yard scamper.
Lincoln Harrah bolted 51 yards on the next play for a touchdown. Rickey Weigand added the PAT after just over two minutes of play had elapsed in the opening quarter.
The Raiders put a scare into North Union on the ensuing kickoff as Brady Burrey galloped 74 yards before finally being stopped on the North Union eight-yard-line.
However, the NU defense that has produced four shutouts this season stepped up to keep Ben Logan out of the end zone.
On a fourth-down play, Nolan Draper intercepted a Kam Allen pass in the end zone to stop the threat.
“You never know when a big play will occur and that defensive stop was one of them,” NU head coach Nick Hajjar said.
North Union needed just two plays after the pick to get another six-point score.
On the first play, Harrah sped for 84 yards before being tackled on the Benjamin Logan 4.
A tripping penalty on the Raiders added two yards to the play and Davis crunched the ball in for the touchdown.
Weigand was true with the PAT for a 14-0 lead with 8:07 left in the first quarter.
Keeping with momentum on defense with another three-and-out, North Union took over on the Raiders’ 42.
Four plays gained 16 yards and then on a counter play, Davis ripped up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown with 3:50 left in the opening stanza. Weigand’s PAT boot upped the lead to 21-0.
After scoring on very quick drives for three touchdowns, North Union marched down the field, using 12 plays in traveling 84 yards for the only touchdown of the second quarter.
Young gained 37 yards on seven carries, including the final two yards for a touchdown.
Weigand remained perfect on PATs as North Union climbed to a 28-0 advantage.
Neither team was able to mount a scoring surge the rest of the quarter.
Special teams played the key role during middle of the third period.
The Wildcats broke through a plethora of players on a Ben Logan punt, blocked it and recovered the ball on Raider 7.
Two plays later, Davis bulled into the end zone on a five-yard tally. Weigand kicked through the uprights for a 35-0 lead.
The Raiders made a pair of attempts in the fourth quarter to put points on the board.
The first try ended up like the one they had in the first quarter.
NU’s Trey Bossaller made a tumbling interception just inside the back of the end zone to stop the drive.
A North Union fumble on the next possession allowed Ben Logan a second chance to score.
This time, with 39 seconds left, Mason Smith went into the end zone on a four-yard run.
Hajjar emphasized during the week of practice it was going to take a strong effort to defeat Ben Logan, led by Allen.
He leads the CBC in passing yards, but the Wildcats stymied him at pretty much every turn.
Allen completed just seven of his 21 pass attempts for 43 yards.
“They have a high-potent offense and we adapted well to that from the get-go,” Hajjar said. “They have put up points on everybody.
“Their quarterback can make plays,” he said. “Getting the three touchdowns early was big.”
For the game, North Union rushed for 297 yards.
Harrah needed just five carries to gain 150 yards, while Davis added 145 yards on 13 rushes and Young totaled 86 yards on 16 carries.
Playing just two games at home so far this season, North Union will conclude the regular season with three straight home contests.
“It will feel good to be home,” Hajjar said. “We need to continue to execute and be on a mission.”