Brayden Platt, Yelm rout Union 46-6

On Yelm’s first possession, the Union Titans had the Tornados right where they wanted them — facing a third-and-21.

But Yelm quarter Damian Aalona hit Brayden Platt in the flat, and the 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior slipped a couple of tackles and leapt over another tackler on his way for a 50-yard touchdown.

That would only be the beginning of a long night for the Titans.

Platt scored four touchdowns as the Tornados dominated in every facet, handing Union its most lopsided defeated in program history in a 46-6 rout of the Titans.

“He’s a pretty special football player,” Union coach Rory Rosenbach said of Platt. “He really is. He’s really a good football player, and I think they do a good job. They’ve got some nice pieces around him. And they were a lot more physical than us tonight.”

Yelm outgained Union 335-39 and led 46-0 by halftime. The Titans did not get a first down until the third quarter and finished with four first downs, three coming by Yelm penalty.

“I think first as a (coaching) staff we have to reflect and say what are we not doing,” Rosenbach said. “I think we cleaned up some things from last week, but we clearly have more things to clean up. And ultimately, it falls on us (the coaches). We’ve got to do a better job.”

The few bright spots included Caleb Haase’s fumble recovery in the third quarter, which led to Union’s lone touchdown — a 17-yard pass from Tyson Fuehrer to Chase Lofton.

Other than that, it was all Yelm, who looked every part of a state-title contender at Class 3A. Platt rushed for 85 yards on just six carries, and caught three passes for 99 yards. Quarterback Damian Aalone passed for 246 yards.

Union, meanwhile, lookeed shell-shocked.

“It’s hard because I thought we played so hard and competed so hard last week,” Rosenbach said. “And I feel like we got bullied a bit tonight.”

Friday marked the first time Union had been on the wrong end of a running-clock score since a 49-13 loss to Camas in 2016, Rosenbach’s first season at Union.

The silver lining is that 2016 team had a young Lincoln Victor on it. Victor would lead the Titans to a state title two seasons later, so change can come.

Rosenbach just hopes change happens before next week’s matchup with Mountain View.

“We have to figure out how to fix that before next week because Mountain View is going to try to do the same thing to us,” Rosenbach said.

Then, he added: “Thankfully, No. 23 (Platt) don’t play for them.”

YELM 46, UNION 6

Yelm 26 20 0 0—46

Union 0 0 6 0—40

First quarter

Y — Brayden Platt 50 pass from Damian Aalona (William Carreto kick)

Y — Platt 28 run (Carreto kick)

Y — Carreto 4 run (kick failed)

Y — Platt 41 run (run failed)

Second quarter

Y — Platt 5 run (run failed)

Y — Aden Schaler 6 pass from D. Aalona (Platt run)

Y — Kyler Ronquillo 14 pass from D. Aaloona (run failed)

Third quarter

U — Chase Lofton 17 pass from Tyson Fuehrer (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Yelm: Platt 6-85, Ray Wright 3-10, D. Aalona 1-7, Isaiah Patterson 1-4, Mason Embrey 4-19, Kyler Ronquillo 1-(-8), Aden Schaler 1-(-7), William Carreto 3-(-1), Anthony Kiamco 4-(-20), team 1-(-4). Union: Luke Burbank 8-10, Lofton 1-1, Fuehrer 3-(-7), Sincere Scruggs 1-(-7), team 1-(-3).

PASSING — Yelm: D. Aalona 18-25-0-246; Union: Fuehrer 7-18-2-41.

RECEIVING — Yelm: Platt 3-99, Ronquillo 10-75, Tre Smith 1-18, Marius Aalona 2-27, Schaler 2-27. Union: Caden Drobinski 3-12, Lofton 2-23, Toby Smoot 2-6.