Big second half leads Union to 26-21 victory over Mountain View

Even with all the smoke in the air this week, the Union Titans expected a few sparks to fly Friday night in their rivalry game with Mountain View.

But once the Titans relaxed just a little, they went to work to secure a 26-21 non-league victory over the Thunder at McKenzie Stadium.

“I think we expected everyone to be up at an 11” out of 10, Union coach Rory Rosenbach said. “And it was ‘OK, can come down to like a 9?’ Once we settled down, we started to focus on what we needed to do.”

After Mountain View went into the half with a 14-13 lead, the Union defense stepped up big  and the offense rolled behind 115 rushing yards by Jojo Siofele to fend off the Thunder.

“I think the big switch was up front on both sides,” said quarterback Lincoln Victor, who passed for 194 yards. “You talk about our offensive linemen, they’re moving people, making holes for our specialty players. And the defensive line stepped it up big time in the second half. That’s all we could ask for.”

Mountain View quarterback Glen Perry Jr., rushed for 176 yards on 25 carries. But the senior gained 128 of those yards in the first half.

After Mountain View received the second half kickoff, the Titan defense forced a three-and-out, which led to a short punt.

Four plays later, Siofele scored his second touchdown of the game to give Union a 20-14 lead.

Union ended Mountain View’s next two drives with interceptions by Dustin Nettles and Jordan Torres, the latter setting up Aiden Nellor’s 16-yard TD reception from Victor for a 26-14 Union lead early in the fourth quarter

“I think it just was coming together and playing as a family,” senior linebacker Riley Miller said of the Union defense. “That’s what made all the difference in the second half, and that’s what our coaches emphasized. And it helped us with our big stops in the second half.

The Thunder mounted a 72-yard drive, capped by Perry’s third touchdown of the night to draw Mountain View within 26-21 with 4:05 left.

Then the Titans led Siofele eat up yards and clock.

“I was trusting my line,” Siofele said. “So a solid to them. They were helping find room to run.”

The Titans clinched the victory on an amazing one-handed catch by Darien Chase that gained 35 yards.

“I was just really pleased with how our guys finished,” Rosenbach said. “That was one thing we struggled to do last year. Tonight, we finished the job.”

UNION 26, MOUNTAIN VIEW 21

Union    6              7              7              6—26

Mt. View             7              7              0              7—21

First quarter

U—Jojo Siofele 5 run (pass failed)

MV—Glen Perry Jr. 1 run (Aiden Hargrove kick)

Second quarter

MV—Perry 45 run (Hargrove kick)

U—Braedon Ensley 36 pass from Lincoln Victor (Alex Koga kick)

Third quarter

U—Siofele 1 run (Koga kick)

Fourth quarter

U—Aiden Nellor 16 pass from Victor (run failed)

MV—Perry 8 run (Hargrove kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Union: Siofele 16-115, Victor 7-39, Ensley 1-18, Alishawuan Taylor 1-7, Elijah Jones 5-6. Mountain View: Perry 25-176; Jack Mertens 5-35; Nile Jones 8-33; Michael Urruchua 4-14.

PASSING – Union: Victor 14-21-1-194; Mountain View: Perry 4-9-2-31.

RECEIVING – Union: Darien Chase 5-79; Ensley 5-59; Nellor 3-39; Taylor 1-17. Mountain View: Rodolfo Montiel 1-16; Mertens 1-14; Jones 1-3; Michael Bolds 1-(-2).