By Mike Hutchens, Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–In a game that produced 83 total points, more than 800 yards of combined offense and 12 possessions in which either one team or the other scored, it was ironically a defensive play the proved to be the ultimate difference.
Alex Rodriguez batted down an Adamsville two-point conversion pass in overtime to secure Union City’s wild 42-41 come-from-behind victory over the Cardinals Friday night in the Region 7-2A opener for both teams.
Rodriquez’s heroics capped a frantic ending that saw UC score three times during a seven-minute span in the fourth quarter to twice erase 14-point deficits. The Twisters then hit paydirt on the first possession of OT – Justin Wiggins bulling his way in for his third touchdown of the evening – before freshman Miguel Sanchez banged home what was ultimately the game-winning PAT, which capped his 6-for-6 night.
There was a little more drama left, though, as Adamsville’s Lathan Morris tossed a fourth-down TD pass to Jacob Bowles to draw the visitors within the final margin before Cardinal head coach Brandon Gray opted to go for the win, rather than attempt a kick and send the contest into the second overtime.
Rodriquez, however, swatted Morris’ pass attempt away, setting off a wild celebration and giving the UC defense a rare stop in a contest that featured 69 second-half points, but also 24 combined penalties for 243 yards between the two teams.
A drained Tornado head coach Darren Bowling was nonetheless gushing with pride when speaking about his troops afterward.
“This is what it’s all about … facing adversity and rising up to meet the challenge,” he said. “I think the toughness of the kids in our program — along with their mental toughness — really showed up there when we were down and then in overtime.
“We don’t have a lot of numbers on our roster, and the way we do things, football isn’t meant for everybody. For those who love the game, for those who have passion and grit and toughness though, I believe you saw all of those things tonight. The work they put in in the offseason, the commitment they have to make, it forces them to have a never-say-die attitude and dig a little deeper to win a game like this.”
UC rushed for more than 300 yards (388) for the third time in as many games this season behind the dominating efforts of offensive linemen of DJ Gray, Carson Corley, Carter Bondurant, Neil Brown and Rodriquez.
Wiggins totaled 186 yards and three touchdowns at fullback, while quarterback Sam Theobald ran for 113 yards and three scores – two of those coming in the fourth quarter when the Twisters rallied from deficits of 28-14 and 35-21.
Perhaps Theobald’s biggest play, though, came when he recovered an onside kick that teammate Evan Alexander knocked free at the Adamsville 47 with 4:42 to go after Union City had just scored on Wiggins’ five-yard run to get within 35-28.
Nine plays later — with just 1:03 showing in regulation — Theobald carried a keeper into the endzone from four yards out to make it a one-point game before Sanchez converted to even the count at 35.
Though it struggled throughout much of the second half, the Tornado defense did turn away the Adamsville offense when it threatened to win the contest in regulation as the Cardinals took three unsuccessful shots at the UC endzone in the last 25 seconds from the Tornado 25 yard line.
“That’s what it’s all about … one side of the ball picking up the other and vice-versa,” Bowling added. “Our defense struggled, but our offense kept us in the game in the second half. Then, the defense rose up there at the end of regulation and then again when A-Rod (Rodriguez) made the big play in overtime.
“I really thought the momentum changed in our favor with the onsides recovery that set up the tying touchdown. And I had great confidence that we were going to win when we got the game into overtime. I liked our odds.”
The coach also insisted he didn’t consider going for two after Union City scored on the overtime’s first possession.
“At home, no,” he said. “I wanted them (Adamsville) to have to make that call if they scored and they did. That’s a lot of pressure and it worked out for us.”
Corley topped the Tornado tackle chart with 10 total stops, including seven solos and two for lost yards. Theobald was in on seven tackles, while Kevin Vanbrocklin was credited with 6 ½. Bondurant came up with a key first-half interception that thwarted an Adamsville scoring threat for UC’s lone gained turnover.
Now 2-1 overall and, more importantly 1-0 in regional play, the Purple and Gold will look to make it three straight wins and celebrate homecoming in style when it welcomes Booker T. Washington of Memphis next Friday.
Union City 42, Adamsville 41
Adamsville 0 7 21 7 6 — 41
Union City 0 7 7 21 7 — 42
A — Lathan Morris 21 pass to Carter McLemore (Kameron Graham kick). 9:12, 2nd
UC — Justin Wiggins 1 run (Miguel Sanchez kick). 1:42, 2nd
A — Cody Infield 67 run (Graham kick). 11:34, 3rd
UC — Sam Theobald 2 run (Sanchez kick). 8:59, 3rd
A — Infield 1 run (Graham kick). 7:42, 3rd
A — Morris 15 run (Graham kick). 0:46, 3rd
UC — Theobald 56 run (Sanchez kick). 8:16, 4th
A — Morris 50 pass to Brodie Austin (Graham kick). 6:20, 4th
UC — Wiggins 5 run (Sanchez kick). 4:46, 4th
UC — Theobald 4 run (Sanchez kick). 1:03, 4th
UC — Wiggins 6 run (Sanchez kick). OT
A — Morris 4 pass to Jacob Bowles (pass failed). OT
A UC
Total Offense 413 388
Rush Att.-Yards 29-243 60-388
Comp.-Att.-Int 11-21-1 0-0-0
First Downs 17 16
Punts-Avg. 1-38 —
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 4-2
Penalties-Yds. 15-143 9-100
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Adamsville — Cody Infield 11-142, Lathan Morris 10-49, Brodie Austin 1-24, Tucker Johnson 5-18, Trey Damron 2-10 Union City — Justin Wiggins 32-186, Sam Theobald 20-113, Wes Tilghman 2-42, Travon Westbrook 4-35, Kyrell Littleton 2-12.
PASSING: Adamsville — Lathan Morris 11-21-1—170. Union City — Sam Theobald 0-0-0—0.
RECEIVING: Adamsville — Brodie Austin 1-24, Carter McLemore 3-75, Jacob Bowles 3-20, Ty Case 1-5. Union City — None.
RECORDS: Adamsville 0-3 (0-1); Union City 2-1 (1-0).
NEXT GAME: UC hosts Booker T. Washington, Friday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m., for homecoming.
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