Entering Friday night’s game at defending state champion Hawthorne, Union County (Lake Butler) football coach Andrew Thomas said he felt his team could win if they didn’t make mistakes.
And when you play a good team like Hawthorne, you can’t help the other team out.
The Hornets (7-0) took advantage of the Tigers’ flaws and proved they were the better team in a 28-0 win in a matchup of two of the top five teams in the state in Class 1R.
A roughing the passer penalty on the first play of the second quarter was costly.
After Union County failed to score on its first offensive possession, the Hornets were pinned deep at their own 6-yard line.
A 9-yard run by junior running back Keenon Johnson, followed by a 35-yard pass from junior quarterback C.J. Ingram to senior Andrew Zock, moved the ball to midfield.
Hawthorne consumed 7:53 off the first quarter clock on the drive, but on 4th-and-5 at the Tigers’ 18-yard line, Ingram’s pass to Johnson was incomplete.
However, Union County was flagged for a roughing the passer penalty.
On the next play, Johnson ran it in from 10 yards out for a 7-0 lead with 11:40 to play in the half to cap a 94-yard scoring drive.
“We gave them an extra down and they scored on the next one,” Thomas said. “We got a stop. You can’t do that. They’re too good. If you eliminate that and they don’t score there, and then there was a 5-yard hitch that we missed a tackle on and the boy takes it to the house. Those can’t happen.”
That second scoring play, which followed another Union County punt, was on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Ingram to senior Matthew McKinley-Daniels, who broke a tackle and raced down the left sidelines for a 14-0 lead.
The Hornets appeared to be headed for a score on their first drive of the second half.
However, after moving the ball to the Union County 22-yard line, a fumble recovery by Thomas Williams kept the Tigers (3-3) in it.
Union County went on a 16-play drive following the turnover and consumed almost eight minutes off the clock.
However, on 4th-and-10 at Hawthorne 13-yard line, quarterback Trenton Klein overthrew Williams, who was open in the left corner of the end zone.
Following a punt, the Tigers started their first possession of the final quarter at their own 43-yard line.
Klein completed a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Blake McCoy down to the Hawthorne 38-yard line. However, a dead ball penalty against the Tigers forced them to punt on the drive.
“They’re too good, we’re still a good football team, but they’re too good for us to give them that,” Thomas said. “We need those breaks not them. We fought hard but we’ve got to have that kind of stuff go right for us and we made those mistakes, and early on we couldn’t block them.”
After Hawthorne punted on its next possession, Union County mounted another drive with 7:21 remaining.
Klein completed a 36-yard pass to Gavin Jenkins to the Hawthorne 23-yard line.
However, Klein’s next pass was intercepted in the endzone by senior Tremain Johnson.
“I just love the way our guys regrouped after some of that adversity, after we were trying to find a rhythm in the second half, I love the way we bounced back,” said Hawthorne coach Cornelius Ingram. “That’s a sign of a good football team. We could easily say, ‘oh man, it’s over, we can’t get in a rhythm,’ but our defense was lights out, Keenon Johnson ran the ball well, and C.J. made some big throws down the stretch.”
On the first play after the interception, Johnson ran right, broke a tackle, and took it 80 yards to the house for a commanding 21-0 lead with 6:18 to play.
“He’s been great all year,” Ingram said. “He doesn’t get enough credit around the state of Florida. He doesn’t get enough credit in our area. He’s definitely one of the best, well-rounded running backs because he’s probably one of our best receivers just naturally catching the football. He’s great in protection, giving C.J. more time to throw the ball downfield and then of course he’s a hard runner.”
The final score came on a 28-yard pass play from Ingram to USF commit Alvon Issac.
“If you can get a win at this time of the season, against a great opponent like Lake Butler (Union County), a well-coached football team, I’ll definitely take it,” Ingram said.
Union County will play at Santa Fe (Alachua) next Friday, while Hawthorne will travel to North Marion (Citra).
Friday, Oct. 13
Hawthorne 28, Union County (Lake Butler) 0
Newberry 38, Eastside 0
Oak Hall 20, P.K. Yonge 8
Buchholz 38, Oakleaf (Orange Park) 3
Matanzas (Palm Coast) 35, Gainesville 0
Trenton 40, Bronson 0
Fort White 35, Dixie County (Cross City) 0
Bradford (Starke) 24, True North Classical Academy (Miami) 13
St. Francis Catholic 44, Cedar Creek Christian (Jacksonville) 20
Columbia (Lake City) 17, Middleburg 6
Madison County 38, Suwannee (Live Oak) 13
Palatka 41, Keystone Heights 21
Interlachen 21, Bell 19
OFF – Chiefland, Santa Fe (Alachua), Williston
I played for coach at Union county wwent 72-2 in 4 years won state in hurdles each year. The two best coaches I’ve had during my highschool and college career was Kyler Cohen’s my brother we won state title my sr. In track. And Football no doubt nobody is close to coach Pruitt. I was well prepared for college leaving Union County. He molds men and scholars not just football player. I love him like a father till this day. The whole staff. I just wanted to say thanksfor everything coach truly the best time of my life. I love you and Mike keep up the great work. J.R. Jenkins #8 class of 98. Some may call me David.