The Union Yellowjackets put together a dominating performance to open the Class 2A playoffs.
The Yellowjackets got another big game from Kenyon Clay and a dominating defense to take a 35-0 win over visiting East Marion on Friday night.
With the win, Union improves to 8-2 on the season and will take on Wesson, a 56-54 winner over Bay Springs last week. The game will be played at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
First-year coach Jordan Wren said he thought his team executed the game plan to perfection.
“It reminded me of the Newton game in that we came out and executed early with our game plan,” Wren said. “We put up 19 points in the first quarter and we had two interceptions and a fumble recovery on defense. The offense was able to capitalize on that. It was a good team win.”
Union got the ball to start the game and promptly went 60 yards in seven plays. Jaylon Buckley capped off the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run with 9:51 left in the first quarter. Henry Thornton’s PAT failed, and Union led 6-0.
After East Marion went three and out on offense, Union put together another solid drive. This time the Yellowjackets went 53 yards in 11 plays as Clay finished off the drive with a 5-yard run 5:07 left in the first quarter. The try for two failed and Union led 12-0.
After a fumble recovery by Eli Rigdon to stop an eight-play drive by East Marion, Union then went 72 yards in three plays as Clay hit Markus Jones on a 28-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first quarter. Thornton hit the PAT and Union led 19-0.
“I thought both units played well,” Wren said. “Honestly, the defense played better than the offense. You need that in the playoffs. They had negative 22 yards rushing and I think that tells the story of how the game went for East Marion.”
Union got the ball right back as Cameron Jackson intercepted an East Marion pass. Three plays later, Union scored on a 36-yard run by Buckley with 9:06 left in the second quarter. The try for two failed and Union led 25-0, a score that lasted until halftime.
Union added one second-half touchdown as Clay scored on a 3-yard run with 3:14 left in the third quarter. Thornton booted the PAT and Union led 32-0.
Thornton added a 38-yard field goal with 2:11 left in the game for the final points for Union.
Union had 399 yards of total offense with 149 yards passing on 15-of-24 attempts by Clay. Union had 250 yards rushing as Clay rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries. Buckley had 87 yards rushing on 14 carries. Jones had six catches for 94 yards as well.
“We went into the game planning to throw it a little more than we had in the previous few games,” Wren said. “We threw it 24 times and Kenyon had a 63 percent completion percentage and was very effective. We threw it to seven different receivers which I thought was very good. I think teams are having to figure out what they want to try and take away and defend. I think we can win on the ground or through the air.”
On defense, Union allowed just 126 total yards as East Marion had 148 passing and negative 22 rushing. Peyton Posey had six tackles while Eli Rigdon and Dominique Harralson each had four tackles apiece. Carlos Hickman and three tackles while Trodarian Campbell, John Neal, Ky’Yon Harris, Robert Craft and Davarian McDonald each had two tackles apiece. Harris and Jackson each had interceptions for the defense.
