The game was stuck in a stalemate. Each offense was bogged down in a scoreless quagmire.
Adrian Andrade couldn’t have been having more fun.
The Union senior linebacker knew his team’s offense would eventually find a way to score against Heritage. That neither team scored in the first half didn’t bother him.
“We’ve got to go out and have fun because these nights don’t last forever,” Andrade said. “That’s what we did. We went out, had fun and just flew around.”
Union’s offense eventually arrived in the second half as the Titans beat Heritage 27-0 Friday at McKenzie Stadium.
Union knew of Heritage’s stout defense, which had allowed just 36 points in four previous games.
It turns out the Titans can shut an opponent down was well. Union (3-2, 1-0) allowed just 139 yards on Friday to open the 4A Greater St. Helens League portion of its schedule.
“Our defense was lights out, always flying to the ball,” Union junior Braedon Ensley said.
Ensley was key to Union breaking through in the second half. Quarterback Nehru Faalevao found him for a 25-yard touchdown catch to put Union ahead 6-0 with 7:26 left in the third quarter.
“I just ran behind the safety,” Ensley said. “Nehru did a good job of improvising and getting me the ball.”
Union’s defense set the table for the Titans’ second touchdown. On Heritage’s ensuing possession, Tommy Strassenberg intercepted a pass and returned it to the Heritage 13 yard line.
One play later, Faalevao was in the end zone on a quarterback run around the right edge.
“We just had to play the way we usually play and stop making mental mistakes,” Ensley said. “We were just shooting ourselves in the foot the whole first half.”
Ensley broke the game open in the fourth quarter. His 60-yard punt return for a touchdown put Union ahead 20-0 with 9:21 to play.
With Union’s defense refusing to bend, 20 points was more than enough.
But that didn’t stop the Titans defense from adding an exclamation point. Abe Smith returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown in the final minutes.
Heritage (3-2, 0-1) was its typical stingy self in the first half. Though the Timberwolves allowed 183 yards of offense in the first half, they also flew to the ball and made plays that kept Union from getting inside the 30 yard line.
But after halftime, the Titans broke through.
“We finally learned how to finish,” Ensley said. “We didn’t play well in the first half, but we know how to finish now.”
UNION 27, HERITAGE 0
Heritage 0 0 0 0 – 0
Union 0 0 13 14 – 27
Third quarter
U – Braedon Ensley 25 pass from Nehru Faalevao (pass failed)
U – Faalevau 13 run (Connor Culp kick)
Fourth quarter
U – Ensley 60 punt return (Culp kick)
U – Abe Smith 20 yard interception return (Culp kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING – Heritage: Gavin Lee 15-65, Tashiem Hurse 13-55, Jalynnee McGee 3-minus-7, Michael Taras 4-27. Union: Keithen Shepard 1-17, Nehru Faalevao 13-94, Braedon Ensley 5-68, Elijah Jones 4-45, Adrian Andrade 4-8, Abe Smith 2-5.
PASSING – Heritage: Michael Taras 4-15-9. Union: Nehru Faalevao 10-18-87; Keithen Shepard 0-1-0.
RECEIVING – Heritage: Ammon Garrison 2-minus-1, Kahai Umiamaka 1-3 , Matt Rivera 1-7. Union: Keithen Shepard 3-27, Elijah Jones 1-8, Kai Gamble 2-13, Braedon Ensley 3-27, Aiden Nellor 1-12.
