Last Friday was most definitely a good night to be a Union football fan.

Despite trailing, 7-12, at the half – partially made possible by an Oelwein Huskies’ touchdown right out of the starting gate – the Union Knights quickly turned things around in the second half of Friday night’s Homecoming game at Union Stadium to beat the Huskies, 34-24.

At roughly the halfway point in the third quarter, the Knights, at last, overtook the Huskies in front of their hometown crowd with both a touchdown and an extra point – the PAT courtesy of junior Brock Ruzicka – bringing the score to 14-12.

The Huskies answered back in kind with a touchdown of their own but — just shy of the end of the third quarter — Union retook the lead. Heading into the fourth, the Knights led, 21-18.

In the final quarter, the Knights bumped the score up even higher with another touchdown. The Huskies attempted to make something happen – putting up one more touchdown of their own – but the Knights were not to be denied.

Union scored one last time – the extra point good – to keep the Huskies caged, notching a Homecoming win, 34-24, over their district rival.

This was a rushing game for Union, the team logging 349 yards total. Senior Tyler Wilson carried the ball 15 times for 90 yards and three touchdowns. Starting quarterback Andrew Sadler kept the ball 11 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while Homecoming King Joren Fisher carried the ball 16 times for 156 yards.

Sadler threw just eight times – making contact with Fisher for three and 9 yards, and with Logan Rosauer for a single 31-yard reception.

Adding to the Knights’ point total, four of five of Ruzicka’s PATs were good.

Fourteen Union defenders ran the tackle count up to 47.5 including defensive leaders Ruzicka and sophomore Briar Mast, who each logged 7.5 tackles apiece.

Community support for student Kate Craft

Moments prior to kickoff, as the sun began to set, the Union XC team made its way around the track after running the game ball 19 miles from Dysart to La Porte City that afternoon in support and in honor of fellow teammate Kate Craft who is currently battling brain cancer.

After leading her team into the stadium – game ball in tow – Craft and her father Matt Craft were presented with a check by Union XC head coach Justin Parson in the amount of $11,834.66 for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Parson and his team had hoped to raise at least $5,000 through the run – dubbing the fundraiser 5Ks for $5K – but more than doubled their goal with the help of both the community and the La Porte City Elementary ‘Coin War’ which added $3,129.93 to the total.

Earlier in the afternoon, while the cross country team covered the rural miles between the district’s two communities, Joren Fisher and Aubrey Gates were crowned Union’s 2022-2023 Homecoming King and Queen during a high school pep rally.

It was truly a great night to be a Union Knight.

Union football is now 2-5 on the season. After facing North Fayette Valley (4-2) this Friday on the road, the Knights will round out the regular season at home against Waukon (3-3) on October 14.