Union Knights Football Team

It was a standing room only white out night for the Union fans, a 3A district championship win for the Knights, and a record setting night for Wes Burnside. Both Union (AP ranked #8) and Marion (AP ranked #6) were unbeaten at (7-0) before the kickoff. Both teams realized the 3A district 5 champion would be the winner of this game. The game pitted the district's top scoring offense (Union averaging 47 points/game) vs. the district's top scoring defense (Marion allowing only 7 points/game). It also showcased the #1 district rusher (Burnide, 318 yds) vs. the #2 rusher (Marion's Storla, 49 yards). In the end the Union team did what it has done all season long and come back from being behind to win 41-35.

Wes Burnside, the junior running back, continues an assault on the not only the Union record book but all the state of Iowa. Behind an offensive line that opened up holes for four quarters, Burnside broke the Union offensive rushing record for carries in one game with 57 and also broke his own record of yards rushing in one game with 318. The attempts record is believed to be a state all time record; however, there is no record kept for rushes in one game by the state. Burnside is close to 2000 yards rushing for the season as he has 229 attempts for 1916 yards and 26 TDs. Sophomore quarterback Trev Hadachek also rushed for two touchdowns and rushed for 32 yards in 13 carries. The Knights had 83 total plays on offense to the Marion Indians 49.

The Union offense continued an assault on the record books by breaking the team record for points in one season with 354 (previous record was 320,1997)after only 8 games. Meanwhile, the defense came up with two key interceptions (Brad Siebel and Hunter Zempel) in the fourth period to seal the victory in addition to a fumble recovery by Dylan McLaughlin. Leading tacklers for the Knights included McLaughlin (6T, 4UT, 2AT), Hunter Zempel (5T, 2UT, 3AT) and Cole Hinders (5T, 3UT, 2AT). Zach Bathen had two tackles for loss with Kyle Ansley and TJ Gray having one each.

Special teams coverage was solid all night long and Reid Monroe had a big fieldgoal at the end of the second quarter to send the Knights into the locker room up 17-14. Cory Feldpouch had 5 kickoff returns for 139 yards. At the end of the game the Knight players rushed over to thank the Union fans for their great support all season long. This game will be talked about for many years to come.


Other District 5 Scores:
Center Point-Urbana 36, Anamosa 6
Central Clinton, DeWitt 36, Vinton-Shellsburg 29
Epworth, Western Dubuque 17, Maquoketa 10