CLARION — Going where no Scottie has gone before.
Using an explosive offense and an opportunistic defense, Union football is headed to the PIAA Class 1A title game for the first time in program history after a 46-36 semifinal win against District 9 champion Port Allegany on Friday at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium.
“It’s about the kids,” first-year Union head coach Kim Niedbala said. “It’s about the school. It’s about the community. I am happy and excited for them.”
Union started the game with a near-perfect offensive performance scoring on each of its first four possessions building a 28-6 lead midway through the third quarter.
“We were able to move the ball,” Niedbala said. “We were able to execute pretty well.”
Making the offensive performance in the first half special was that the final two touchdowns of the half came with starting quarterback Braylon Thomas on the bench after he suffered an injury in the second quarter (Thomas returned to the game in the second half).
That included a 32-yard Matt Stanley touchdown run out of the Wildcat just after Thomas was hurt.
“We have used both Stanley and Mike Gunn in the Wildcat exclusively this year,” Niedbala said. “We have worked on that every week. We knew what we would go to once he went out.”
The second score without Thomas was a highlight reel Hail Mary at the end of the first half as time ran out from Kaden Fisher to Dayne Johnke from 31 yards out that put the Scotties ahead 20-6 at halftime.
“Kaden threw it up and Dayne made a great play,” Niedbala said.
Union looked like it had put the game away when it scored on its first possession of the third quarter to go ahead 28-6.
But Port Allegany didn’t go away and made it 28-14 early in the fourth quarter on a 5-yard Peyton Stiles reverse run.
The Gators then picked off Thomas and drove inside the Union 35-yard line.
That’s when Fisher came up with a strip-sack and 65-yard return for a touchdown.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Scotties got another fumble recovery and turned that into a 38-yard run by Gunn to go up 40-14 with 7:46 to play.
Port Allegany didn’t go away quietly, scoring three times in the final 6:34 of the game, and only a stopped two-point conversion by Union with 1:26 to go kept the game from being a one-possession contest.
First Published: December 3, 2022, 3:38 a.m.
