4A football: Gonzaga Prep runs past Union, 45-17

Gonzaga Prep proved to be too much for the Union Titans in the second half as the Bulldogs ran away with a 45-17 4A state football first-round victory Saturday at Spokane.

Three Gonzaga Prep rushers eclipsed 100 yards with Griffin Hare doing the most damage with 20 carries for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

“They are a really good team, especially offensively,” Union coach Cale Piland said. “They are very effective in what they do.”

Union (7-4) played even in the first half.

Leon Siofele scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter, and James Munson had a 2-yard TD run in the second quarter.

A 20-yard field goal by Trent Cowan made the score 17-17 at halftime.

“We were getting what we wanted and didn’t have trouble moving the ball,” Piland said. “We had our opportunities. They just had some big plays to put points on the board.”

Hare scored on runs of 6, 33 and 1 yard and had Gonzaga Prep ahead 31-17 just after the start of the fourth quarter.

His third TD was sent up by a roughing the punter call against Union. Gonzaga Prep was punting on fourth-and-17.

Gonzaga Prep added two more scores in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. In addition to Hare, Zach Bonneau had 119 yards rushing and Tom Davis 101.

Munson led Union rushers with 71 yards on 12 carries. Siofele had 65 yards on 14 carries.

Gonzaga Prep (10-1) advances to face Bellarmine Prep in the quarterfinals next week.

GONZAGA PREP 45, UNION 17

Union 7 10 0 0–17

Gonzaga Prep 3 14 7 21–45

First quarter

U — Leon Siofele 2 run (Whelan kick)

GP — Max Gruber 34 FG

Second quarter

U — James Munson 2 run (Whelan kick)

GP — Tom Davis 62 run (Gruber kick)

GP — Griffin Hare 6 run (Gruber kick)

U — Trent Cowan 20 FG

Third quarter

GP — Hare 33 run (Gruber kick)

Fourth quarter

GP — Hare 1 run (Gruber kick)

GP — Jordan Rathbone 9 run (Gruber kick)

GP — Steven Machtols 37 interception return (Gruber kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Union — Munson 12-71, Siofele 14-65, Cowan 7-47. Gonzaga Prep — Hare 20-148, Zach Bonneau 20-119, Gruber 7-68, Tom Davis 5-101, Rathbone 1-9.

PASSING — Union — Nolan Henry 17-27-1-186. Gonzaga Prep — Bonneau 2-4-0-18.

RECEIVING — Union — Treve Ensley 5-46, Cowan 8-81, Siofele 2-40, Micah Merfeld 2-19. Gonzaga Prep — Hare 1-12, Rathbone 1-6.