Union backfield shines to top Midwest City in East-West Showdown
BY KEVIN HENRY World Correspondent
Friday, August 17, 2012
8/17/12 at 5:39 AM
Union head coach Kirk Fridrich maintains that his Redskins are a team that wants to run the ball first. Judging from what he saw on Thursday night, he will have plenty of young talent at running back this season.
Junior Justin Silmon and sophomore Terrel Buchanan scored rushing touchdowns against Midwest City to help the Redskins to a 28-6 win over the Bombers in the East-West Showdown scrimmage at Union-Tuttle Stadium.
"They have both stepped up quite a bit," Fridrich said. "Both of them are playing like they want to play on Friday night."
Union rushed the ball just six times against the Bombers, with Silmon carrying four times for 19 yards and Buchanan adding two carries for 18 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown.
"Justin has really matured and developed quite a work ethic," Fridrich said. "Terrel is a real special player and I thought he made some great plays tonight."
Union quarterback Hunter Atiya looked sharp against Midwest City, going 8-of-11 for 115 yards and two touchdowns. One of his scores was a 35-yard bomb to 6-foot-7 wide receiver Jeffery Mead on Union's second possession for a 14-6 edge.
Union 28, Midwest City 6
The story: Union looks potent on offense while the defense holds Midwest City to one touchdown ... Midwest City surrendered the ball on downs three times and managed just four first downs.
Top performers: Mead finished as Union's leading receiver with three grabs for 55 yards and a score ... Atyia also hooked up with Mead on a 35-yard touchdown pass in the mini-game against Mustang ... Union senior safety Chase Dahlquist picked off two passes against Mustang.
Muskogee 21, Mustang 19
The story: Senior Marcus McVay stopped Mustang's Chase Brown on a 2-point conversion on the last play of the scrimmage that would've tied the contest.
Top performers: Mackenzie McCall paced Muskogee with eight carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns. ... Rougher quarterback Trevor Jiles finished off Muskogee's first drive against Mustang with a 4-yard scoring keeper around left end ... Jiles finished 7-of-9 passing for 53 yards ... Bryson Bell led Muskogee with four catches for 38 yards.
Muskogee head coach Josh Blankenship on McCall: "He's a player who has made a lot of the other guys on our team better. The way he ran tonight is a direct product of how he practices. He goes like that every play in practice. We need everyone playing at the pace that he goes."
Original Print Headline: Union backfield shines to top Midwest City
Scrimmage Schedule
Friday
Adair, Ketchum at Dewey
B.T. Washington at Jenks
Bartlesville, Claremore, Sand Springs at Collinsville
Beggs, Berryhill at Mannford
Bishop Kelley vs. Guthrie and OKC Douglass at Langston
Cascia Hall, McLain at Hale (East Central)
Central, Edison, NOAH at Sapulpa
Chouteau, Westville, Wyandotte at Porter
Commerce at Chelsea
Coweta, Fort Gibson, McAlester at Wagoner
Dewar, Allen, Maud at Weleetka
East Central, Owasso, Ponca City, Norman at Bixby
Henryetta at Prague
Hilldale at Haskell
Hominy at Stroud
Inola at Kansas
Kellyville, Okemah at Bristow
Metro Christian at Glenpool
Miami and Muldrow at Tahlequah
Morris at Eufaula
Mounds, Summit Christian at Kiefer
Nowata at Oologah
Oaks at Gans
OKC Heritage Hall at Holland Hall
Pawhuska at Cleveland
Pryor at Skiatook
Rogers, Locust Grove, Chandler at Victory Christian
Roland at Poteau
Sallisaw at Tah. Sequoyah
Stilwell at Salina
Stillwater at Broken Arrow
Verdigris at Oologah
Associated Images:
Union's Terrel Buchanan rushes against Mustang during the East-West Showdown scrimmage Thursday at Union-Tuttle Stadium. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
Union's Justin Silmon struggles past a Mustang defender during Thursday's scrimmage. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
|
