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Monday Sports Update • September 9, 2019
Heritage edges Evergreen in high-scoring battle
VANCOUVER — The defending Class 4A state champions still have a championship worthy defense.
The Class 3A semifinalists from a year ago still have a lot of heart.
The Union Titans won their 15th consecutive game, opening the 2019 season with a 20-10 victory over Mountain View at McKenzie Stadium.
The stadium was a celebration of football in Clark County as it hosted two games to kick off the season. Heritage took down Evergreen in a wild contest 35-28 in the first game.
Then it was time for the main event.
Union went 14-0 a year ago in winning its first football state title.
Mountain View went 11-2 a year ago, a school-record for wins, and a semifinal berth.
Sure, there’s a lot of new faces on both teams, but the rivalry remains in good hands.
Isaiah Jones, in his first season as the featured back, rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Union offense.
The defense was simply relentless, holding mighty Mountain View to 31 yards rushing, 167 yards total.
“A lot of returners means a lot of guys knowing what they’re doing,” said senior Daron Ulrich, who had an interception for the Titans. “We just make sure we’re communicating out there and doing the best we can. I feel we have the best defense in the state. We were locking in.”
Logan Wilson, in his first game with the Titans after moving to Union from Columbia River, had a sack and was in on several big stops.
“It’s amazing to be with this team. They embraced me with open arms,” Wilson said.
He said among his jobs is to hype up the team when he is on the field with the rest of the defense.
“Be loud. Be proud. I had to show them some love and encourage them,” Wilson said.
Union coach Rory Rosenbach could only think of one mistake his defense made the entire game. That is unheard of for just about any game, let alone a Week 1 contest.
“I really liked how we played,” Rosenbach said.
He has to be satisfied with his offensive line and his new running back, too. The Titans rushed for 284 yards. Quarterback CJ Jordan rushed for 67 yards in his first start with the team.
Jones had touchdowns of 4 yards, 69 yards, and 15 yards.
“I’ve actually been working for this since my freshman year,” Jones said. “There were so many great running backs ahead of me. I learned from them. I watched what they did and followed in their footsteps.”
He appreciated his linemen for all the work they put in. Not just in the game, but all week.
“We practiced the same plays over and over again,” Jones said.
The Titans perfected those plays on Friday night.
Therman Bibens, the left guard, played his first game on the offensive line.
“It’s surreal. Just thinking about it is crazy,” Bibens said.
The Titans did lose a lot of players to graduation, but he said the program has a next-man up mentality. On Friday, Bibens was one of those guys who stood up.
“It’s a grind. We have to trust the man beside you and keep going no matter what,” Bibens said.
Mountain View scored first on a 39-yard field goal from Jude Mullette.
Jones would give Union a 7-3 lead with his first touchdown, but the Thunder regained the lead in a hurry on a Riley McCarthy 1-yard touchdown run just moments after McCarthy found Alec Cann for a 78-yard pass play.
The Titans took the lead for good on Jones’ 69-yard touchdown run late in the first half.
At the half, Union had 47 snaps on offense while Mountain View had just 18.
This is where that Mountain View heart really showed. Statistically, this game was pretty much all Union. But there was Mountain View, trailing by just four for much of the third quarter. There was Mountain View getting a drive going early in the fourth quarter to try to get back to a one-possession game.
The Thunder have 21 new starters this season. Yes, a brand new team, but the Mountain View pride remains.
For Union, it is now 15 wins in a row. The Titans have not lost since November 2017.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really matter,” Ulrich said of the streak. “We just want to go 1-and-0h every week. After a win, leave everything in the past and get ready for next week.”
The Union interception that led to a TD and a 20-10 lead. pic.twitter.com/0MOZWmKajE
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) September 7, 2019
Union’s Isaiah Jones goes over the 200-yard mark on this carry.@UniontitanFB pic.twitter.com/71imAtA2pi
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) September 7, 2019
UNION 20, MOUNTAIN VIEW 10
Mtn. View 3 7 0 0 — 10
Union 0 14 6 0 — 20
First quarter
MV — Jude Mullette 39 FG
Second quarter
U — Isaiah Jones 4 run (Noah Silverthorne kick)
MV — Riley McCarthy 1 run (Mullette kick)
U — Jones 69 run (Silverthorne kick)
Third quarter
U — Jones 15 run (PAT failed, snap)
HERITAGE 35, EVERGREEN 28
The Heritage Timberwolves lost the lead, but they did not lose their composure.
They also never fell behind in a game that featured nine touchdowns.
Anthony Kee scored on a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter — his third touchdown of the game — giving Heritage a 35-28 lead.
The Heritage defense got a fourth-down stop, and the Timberwolves were able to run out the clock to open the 2019 season with a non-league victory.
Zyell Griffin had a monster effort for Evergreen, catching three touchdown passes from Carter Monda, including a 99-yarder that tied the game at 28 late in the third quarter. Griffin finished with seven catches for 179 yards.
Kee ended up with 181 yards rushing. Isaac Roa went for 129. The new Heritage rushing attack gained 401 yards.
Zyell Griffin with the 99-yard dash and track finish in the end zone.@EvergreenPlain1 pic.twitter.com/A3uvZ2lTat
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) September 7, 2019
This is how Heritage took a 35-28 lead. pic.twitter.com/DKW1N8CBew
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) September 7, 2019
HERITAGE 35, EVERGREEN 28
Heritage 0 21 7 7 — 35
Evergreen 0 7 21 0 — 28
Second quarter
Her – Anthony Kee 23 run (kick failed)
Her – Kee 3 run (Israel Gonzalez kick)
Her – Jared Padley 40 pass from Nikki Scott (Gonzalez kick)
Eve – Zyell Griffin 10 pass from Carter Monda (Eli Del-Angel kick)
Third quarter
Eve – Tae Marks 30 pass from Monda (Del-Angel kick)
Eve – Griffin 19 pass from Monda (Del-Angel kick)
Her – Padley 35 pass from Scott (Gonzalez kick)
Eve – Griffin 99 pass from Monda (Del-Angel kick)
Fourth quarter
Her – Kee 1 run (Gonzalez kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Heritage – Nickeson Datel 4-39, Kee 19-181, Isaac Roa 15-129, Andre Cowley 14-93, Skykler Scoggins 4-(minus 5), Scott 4-(minus 21), Padley 1-(minus 2), Team 1-(minus 3). Evergreen – Tyvauntae Deloney 11-33, Derrick Webb 10-39, Monda 2-1.
PASSING: Heritage – Scott 2-6-0-75. Evergreen – Monda 10-31-0-220, Griffin 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Heritage: Padley 2-75. Evergreen – Griffin 7-179, Marks 2-37, Jonathan Simon 1-4.
Camas 24, Lincoln 14
Union 20, Mountain View 10
Heritage 35, Evergreen 28
Skyview 33, Yelm 13
Seattle Prep 40, Battle Ground 0
Prairie 52, Parkrose 33
Washougal 40, Hudson’s Bay 0
R.A. Long 43, Fort Vancouver 16
Centralia 48, Columbia River 33
La Center 35, Ridgefield 28
Hockinson 48, Toppenish 7
Kalama 26, Woodland 7
Elma 34, King’s Way Christian 8.
