Union’s team captains including, from left, senior Kolton O'Connor (43), senior Brock Bergmeier (55), kid captain Evan Bruns, senior Levi Hadachek (5), and senior Caden Sorensen walk hand-in-hand across the field for the pre-game coin toss with Aplington-Parkersburg Friday night in La Porte City. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNION BOOSTERS

LA PORTE CITY – The Union Knights football team knocked down the Aplington-Parkersburg Falcons 25-7 in District 4 play last Friday night at Union Stadium, marking not only a Homecoming win but also the team’s fourth win in a row to remain undefeated on the season.

“School administrators, student council, and other student volunteers really made this week energetic and exciting,” Knights head coach Jared Pospisil told the newspaper over the weekend following the game. “The cherry on top were the packed stands and the victory.”

Ahead of the game Friday night, an inaugural districtwide pep rally was held at the high school in La Porte City beginning at 1 p.m. in an effort to come together as a district and recognize a myriad of student accomplishments while also showing school spirit and pride.

A variety of ‘Minute to Win It’ games were played during the rally which each school building represented in each event. The building that accumulated the most points was considered the ‘winner’ and received the Knight Trophy plus got to put a pie in the face of Superintendent John Howard – who was a great sport about the whole messy scenario! Union High School was the winning building and senior Kaydin Jones was the designated pie thrower.

As the finale to the rally, Homecoming King Maddux DeWinter and Queen Emily Anton were crowned.

Union’s 2025 Homecoming King Maddux DeWinter and Queen Emily Anton pictured in the high school main gym following their crowning. PHOTO BY REBECCA LYN DAVIS

Later that afternoon, members of the Knights cross country team ran the team ball from Dysart to Union Stadium, raising funds for the Union Class of 2025 Memorial Scholarship which was established in memory of students Bradyn Frisbie (2007-2021), Kate Craft (2007-2023), and Gavin Rohrbach (2007-2024). Mike Craft, grandfather to Kate, ran with the runners in honor of his granddaughter who passed away due to brain cancer. The annual run brought in $4,800 for the scholarship. Bradyn Frisbie’s parents and Kate’s mother were among those present at the stadium to accept the memorial check.

The Knights took on the Falcons Friday night in their first Class 1A District 4 clash of the season after defeating 1A New Hampton 22-19 in Week 1; 2A South Tama County 42-6 in Week 2; and 2A Oelwein 52-20 in Week 3.

On just the third play of the game, Knights senior signal caller Caden Sorensen connected with senior wide receiver Levi Hadachek in what amounted to an absolutely perfect deep throw down the right side – a throw which seemingly dropped from the heavens right into Hadacheck’s hands; he subsequently ran it in for a 75-year touchdown. The reception was so perfect, it was nominated for KWWL’s Friday Night Heroes Play of the Week.

“Every time Levi touches the ball, he has the opportunity to break a huge play on offense,” Coach Pospisil said. “It’s also been great to see how well he’s played on defense.”

Union led 7-0 to end the first period. Both teams scored in the second to keep the Knights up 13-7 at the half. The Falcons were unable to score again for the remainder of the game while Union notched one more touchdown per period to capture the program’s first district win of the season and remain undefeated. (Union’s team stats were not available in time for publication.)

Knights signal caller Caden Sorensen (10) prepares for the snap during Friday’s Homecoming game with Aplington-Parkersburg. PHOTO BY REBECCA LYN DAVIS

All of the Knights’ remaining games are against District 4 foes including winless Jesup (4-0) tonight in La Porte City (Friday, Sept. 26), followed by back-to-back road games with Hudson (1-3) and Columbus Catholic (2-2). The Knights are scheduled to end regular season play back at Union Stadium on Friday, Oct. 17, against Sumner-Fredericksburg (0-4).

When asked to gauge his confidence level in maintaining their undefeated record heading into the second half of the season, Coach Pospisil declined to speculate, telling the newspaper he was purely focused on the task at hand.

“I’m looking forward to playing every district team. This is the first time I’ve ever seen a district composed solely of current conference teams. That adds a level of rivalry to every game that may not have been present in previous years,” he said.

The last time Union closed out the season with a winning record was 2018-19, a season that ended up being storied head coach Joe Hadachek’s final season with the Knights. That year Union went 6-4 by defeating Beckman Catholic, North Fayette Valley, Benton, Roland-Story, Vinton-Shellsburg, and Nevada, while dropping games to Charles City, Dike-New Hartford, and West Marshall before ending the season with a loss to Waukon in the playoffs.

Will this be the year the Knights make it a ‘perfect’ regular season for only the second time in school history? The possibility is clearly firing up many who follow gridiron football in Iowa, but if you ask Coach Pospisil, all the programs Union has left to face are worthy foes.

A student-made game day sign on display at Union Stadium in La Porte City during the 2025 Homecoming game against District 4 foe Aplington-Parkersburg last Friday. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNION BOOSTERS

“Every team we play … has great players and creative coaches, so it really doesn’t matter what a team’s record is. Everyone is dangerous. Therefore, we must continue to improve each week to come out on top.”

The Union student section pictured on Friday, Sept. 19, at Union Stadium in La Porte City. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNION BOOSTERS

Members of the Union Knights cross country team run the game ball from Dysart to La Porte City Friday afternoon ahead of the 2025 Homecoming football game. The annual run raised $4,800 toward the Union Class of 2025 Memorial Scholarship. PHOTO BY REBECCA LYN DAVIS

Union Superintendent John Howard receives a pie to the face as part of the 2025 Homecoming pep rally on Friday, Sept. 19, in La Porte City. PHOTO BY REBECCA LYN DAVIS

Union students participate in the districtwide 2025 Homecoming pep rally held in the high school main gymnasium last Friday afternoon. PHOTO BY REBECCA LYN DAVIS

Union’s 2025 Queen candidates line up for a photo following Friday’s pep rally in the high school gym in La Porte City. From left, Alivia Keegan, Reagan Glenn, newly-crowned Queen Emily Anton, and Lauren Frush. PHOTO BY REBECCA LYN DAVIS

Union’s 2025 King candidates line up for a photo following Friday’s pep rally in the high school gym in La Porte City. From left, Levi Hadachek, Luke Winkelpleck, newly-crowned King Maddux DeWinter, and Kolton O’Connor. PHOTO BY REBECCA LYN DAVIS

The breakaway banner is readied last Friday night ahead of the Knights football team storming the field. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNION BOOSTERS