Union Knights Football Team

The Union Knight football team won their sixth consecutive 3A game with a (37-9) win over Benton Community this past Friday night at Van Horne, IA. The Knights drove the ball down with the first possession mixing up the run and pass game and scored with a 17 yard jaunt from Josh Dunkelberger. Steven McGarvey missed the PAT and Benton responded with a 72 yard scamper by Zach Twedt followed by a 39 yard fieldgoal by Wes Anderson making the score Benton 9, Union 6 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter it was all Knights, solid defense and special teams play gave the Knights an opportunity to score three times. The offense turned out 16 first downs and over 340 yards in total offense. QB Steven McGarvey was 10 of 14 (2Tds, 1 INT, 212 yds) through the air. Jared Wauters (6 catches, 171 yards, 2 TDs pass game, 1 TD run) scored on a 38 yard pass and a 3 yard run and combined with Wesley Burnside’s (18 rushes, 109 yds, one TD) one yard plunge to make the score Union 27-9 at half.

The Knight defense shut out the Bobcat offense in the second half. The defense was led by Blake Clark (10T, 6UT, 4AT) , Jared Wauters (10T, 7UT, 3AT) and Josh Dunkelberger (10T, 6UT, 4AT, 1.5 TFL). Clark also had an interception to seal the win. Seven Knights (Dunkelberger, Johnson, Powell, W Hennings, Krall, Gross, Bunz, and Dylan McLaughlin) factored in with the category of tackles for loss during the contest. Austin Bunz had two tackles for loss to lead the team.

Solid special teams coverage kept the Bobcats pinned down all night. Justin Macal had a big momentum play by blocking a PAT/FG and Damon Powell scooped it up on fourthe down and advanced it 21 yards. McGarvey tapped in a kick from 22 yards to conclude the scoring. Final score Union 37, Benton Community 9. The Knights are now (6-0) overall and (4-0) in the District 3A 4 division.

This Friday the Knights take on the highly ranked Marion Indians (6-0 overall, 4-0 in district) in La Porte City with the sophomore game starting at 5:15pm followed by the varsity contest.

KNIGHT PLAYERS OF WEEK VS. Benton 2009

OFF LINE/TE TJ Gray, graded out at 90%, highest grade for offenive line that generated 37 points
including 21 in the 2nd quarter


OFF BACKS Steven McGarvey, engineered the offense in subpar conditions including 10 of 14 in pass game with 212 yds and 2 TDs

DEF LINE Matt Schmitz, first game of year excelled with 40 plays and 81% grading efficiency

DEF LBERS Blake Clark, tied for team lead in tackles (10T, (6UT, 4AT), plus one INT


DEF BACKS Jared Wauters, tied for team lead in tackled (10T (7UT, 3AT), graded at 85% efficiency

SPEC TEAMS Justin Macal, one big PAT/FG block and a punt hurry