Union’s Isaiah Vaughn breaks free of a Mount Vernon defender en route to a 67-yard touchdown during the first half of Saturday’s Class 2A playoff semifinal at the UNI-Dome. (photo courtesy of Matthew Putney / Waterloo Courier)

Union is headed back to Cedar Falls for the Class 2A state title game after a 49-28 win over Mount Vernon in the semifinal.

The Union Knights struck first and last. The defense created five turnovers versus the Mt. Vernon scoring machine. Isaiah Vaughan erupted for 397 yards and five touchdowns behind a line that opened up holes all night long.

Union struck first with a 67 yd run by Vauhan, the forced Mt. Vernon to punt and junior Koby Alpers took the punt back for a 52 yard touchdown. Alpers was not done in the second quarter as he ripped the ball out of a Mt. Vernon receiver and ran it back for a 39 yard touchdown scamper.

Mt Vernon scored in the second quarter with a 10 yard pass from QB Drew Adams to Jack Cochrane. Score at the half was 21-7.

The Knights scored in the third behind an offensive line that helped produce 514 yards in the game, Union 28-7. The Mustangs connection of Adams to Cochrane stuck again from 10 yards out, Knights up 28-14.

The fourth quarter Mt. Vernon attempted to come back another TD catch by Cochrane from one yard out, score Union 28-21.

Then Vaughan took over in the fourth quarter. The senior back ripped two runs of 75 and 58 yards to push the scored after the PATs by Dakota Hora to 42-21. Mt. Vernon responded late with another TD pass from Adam to Jack Bootsmiller and after PAT made it 42-28.

Vaughan put the finishing TD on the recording setting night with 56 yard run and after PAT from Hora made the final 49-28.

Vaughan broke his own rushing record from last year by producing 397 yards in 36 carries.

The Union defense created five turnovers (FOUR interceptions including two int by Ryan Miller, one for TD by Alpers, and one by Stech). There was also a fumble recovery by Jordan Schmitz.

Mt. Vernon attempted 50 passes with 23 completions and ended up with 528 yards in offense.

Union produced 514 yards of offense and 8.5 yards per play on the night.

Troy Hanus was 11 of 19 for 86 yards with John Boisen getting six catches for 53 yards, Alpers 3 for 8 yds, and Vaughan and Stech each had one catch.

Hora continued his state leading PAT production with seven of seven and had a dominating night on kickoffs.

Union takes on Boyden-Hull Rock Valley at 2pm on Friday for the state 2A championship.