By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Oakhaven proved to be the perfect homecoming date for Union City.
And the Golden Tornadoes got the Memphians home early.
Both Kaleb Craig and Wes Tilghman rushed for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns apiece and UC won for the first time this season after three losses vs. rugged competition, beating the Hawks 34-7 in a game that was declared official after lightning suspended the contest midway through the third quarter Friday night.
The Twisters had dominated Oakhaven in all facets of the game, prompting the visitors to ask the game be declared over after the two teams were sent to the dressing room when lightning was seen and thunder heard in the distance with 5:56 left in the third period.
Craig recorded his fourth 100-yard game in as many outings, finishing with 185 yards on 20 carries, including scoring runs of 8 and 13 yards. Tilghman, who began the season at tailback and back-up quarterback, was back under center as the starter after playing receiver last week and kept for 154 yards on 15 rushes with TD carries of 3 and 6 yards.
The Twisters averaged essentially 10 yards-per-carry in the game with 16 plays covering 10 or more yards. The winners finished with a season-high 399 yards rushing.
And the Purple and Gold defense more than held up its end of the deal, limiting the Hawks to just 74 total yards and three first downs while recording six tackles for lost yards and another five for a gain of one or zero yards.
Neil Brown led that unit – which did not give up a score for the second time in four games – with three tackles for lost yards and a sack. Carson Corley dropped the opposing QB for a loss, while Harrison Huff had a stop behind the line. Conner Terrell was in on six tackles (five assists) and Sam Theobald snagged an interception.
Oakhaven’s only score came on a 76-yard kickoff return with 2:31 left in the opening period after UC had grabbed a 7-0 lead on the first of Craig’s scores.
“We got a couple of people healthy and in the spots they’re accustomed to playing in,” Union City head coach Darren Bowling said. “We didn’t have to teach as much last week in practice, we just needed to get some folks some reps.
“As far as the early ending, they (Oakhaven) had three or four kids already get hurt and their coach just said when the lightning came: ‘If it’s OK with you, I’d just as soon head back to Memphis.’ I think that was a better option for him than risking getting some more kids hurt.”
The only thing that kept the contest from being a bigger rout was four lost fumbles by the Tornadoes.
“That’s obviously something we can’t have moving forward,” Bowling said. “A couple of them were effort fumbles, but one was just a foolish special teams play and another was a botched exchange.
“We’re fortunate it wasn’t a close game or those would’ve been big.”
Travon Westbrook accounted for the Tornadoes’ final points, capping UC’s lone second-half drive with a four-yard touchdown.
Austin Atwill was 4-for-4 on PATs.
Union City will now enjoy an open date before taking a trip to New Jersey, where it will meet Penns Grove on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. local time.
UC 34, Oakhaven 7
Oakhaven 7 0 0 X — 7
Union City 7 20 7 X — 34
UC — Kaleb Craig 8 run (Austin Atwill kick). 2:45, 1st
O — Sangareous Harris 76 kickoff return (Alfredo Oliva kick). 2:31, 1st
UC — Wes Tilghman 3 run (Atwill kick). 11:07, 2nd
UC — Craig 13 run (Atwill kick). 8:28, 2nd
UC — Tilghman 6 run (no kick attempted). 0:13, 2nd
UC — Travon Westbrook 4 run (Atwill kick). 7:31, 3rd
O UC
Total Offense 74 399
Rush Att.-Yards 16-16 40-399
Comp.-Att.-Int 4-13-1 ‑‑
First Downs 3 17
Punts-Avg. 6-19.5 ‑‑
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 4-4
Penalties-Yds. 4-29 3-35
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Oakhaven — Camron Woodruff 5-18, M’Kai Hill 11-(-2). Union City — Kaleb Craig 20-185, Wes Tilghman 15-154, Travon Westbrook 4-63, Team 1-(-3).
PASSING: Oakhaven — Camron Woodruff 4-12-1—58, Walter Hammond 0-1-0‑‑0. Union City — None.
RECEIVING: Oakhaven — M’Kai Hill 2-8, Sangareous Harris 1-33, D’Anthony Holmes 1-7. Union City — None.
RECORDS: Oakhaven 1-3, UC 1-3.
NEXT GAME: UC has an open date next Friday before traveling to New Jersey to play Penns Grove, Sat., Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. (CDT).
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