Union Bears (5-0) remain perfect after squeaking by the Gate City Blue Devils (0-5) 34-27
When is an 0-5 team, not considered a winless team? When the Blue Devils of Gate City come to town. The Blue Devils used basic football and a hard hitting defense to give the visiting Blue Devils a chance to put a win in the win column.
Game Statistics
Gate City 7 13 7 0-27
Union 7 6 7 14-34
Scoring Summary
U—Bishop 6 run (Simon kick)
GC—Collier 1 run (Salyer kick)
U—Bishop 12 pass from Spears (kick failed)
GC—McClung 52 pass from Collier (kick failed)
GC—Collier 77 run (Salyer kick)
GC—Lunsford 6 pass from Collier (Salyer kick)
U—Summers 2 run (Simon kick)
U—Bishop 16 run (Simon kick)
U—Summers 1 run (Simon kick)
Team Stats
First Downs: GC 18, U 22; Rushes-Yards: GC 33-176, U 44-269; Passing Yards: GC 210, U 111; Comp.-Att.-Int.: GC 16-22-1, U 10-16-0; Fumbles-Lost: GC 0-0, U 0-0; Penalties-Yards: GC 9-95, U 4-30; Punts-Average: GC 1-33, U 1-35
It took a fourth quarter interception by Bryce Spears to give Union the only stop of the Gate City offense and an opportunity to remain undefeated. The Gate City potent offense scored on every prior offensive drive leading up to the arrant pass and resulting interception. The Blue Devils appeared to be running out of steam in the fourth quarter and blitzes by the Bears caused the Gate City team to make mistakes.
The Bears overcame a 20-13 half-time deficit in the fourth quarter behind running back Devan Summers’ two touchdowns and a 16 yard run by Braxton Bishop. GC took the second half kickoff and marched down the field and scored to seemingly take control of the game when Hunter Collier hit Lunsford with a 6 yard pass while milking the clock away from the Bears.
Union kicked their offense into gear and was helped with two big GC penalties to breath life into a late game rally when Summers hit pay dirt behind a 2 yard run to get within 7 with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter.
After a good kickoff return by Gate City, the Blue Devils began marching down the field, but a pair of penalties and a blitz orchestrated defense by the Bears lead to a mistake by the Blue Devils that allowed for the Spears interception.
A penalty of un-sportsman like conduct on the interception return backed the Bears up to the Union 10-yard line. Spears orchestrated a drive of 90 yard that had Bishop make a strong run off the right side in an old school T formation to tie the game with 6:08 remaining in the game.
Union’s defense held the exhausted Blue Devils and forced the only punt of the night. With 48 seconds remaining, the Union Bears scored on a Summers 1 yard run to go ahead of the Blue Devils and keep an un-defeated season alive and the win of 34-27.
Players of the Game
1. Bryce Spears - Union
2. Devan Summers - Union
3. Braxton Bishop - Union
Bryce Spears
Spears was the play caller on offense but the key interception in the fourth quarter stopped the Blue Devils from taking a commanding lead and giving the Bears their first loss of the season.
Devan Summers and Braxton Bishop
The running back tandem of Summers and Bishop powered three back to back drives to earn Union the win. The Blue Devils had spent all of the steam, late in the game, with players going both ways.
Keys to Victory
The Union defense was the key to victory for the Bears. The defense behind linebackers Cameron Fannon and Bishop kept pressure on the Blue Devils quarterback and made key stops in the fourth quarter. The Bears’ offense went back to old school, basic football and ran the football right at the Gate City defense.
Summary
Gate City is the best 0-5 team on anyone’s schedule. Do not take them lightly. This was a different Blue Devil’s team than played the Abingdon Falcons on week 2. After playing the Bluefield Beavers, ranked 2nd in their Division in the state of West Virginia, to a close game the previous week, the Blue Devil’s came into Bullitt Park ready for a huge win. They almost pulled off a major upset. This will be an eye opener for the Bears.
When is an 0-5 team, not considered a winless team? When the Blue Devils of Gate City come to town. The Blue Devils used basic football and a hard hitting defense to give the visiting Blue Devils a chance to put a win in the win column.
Game Statistics
Gate City 7 13 7 0-27
Union 7 6 7 14-34
Scoring Summary
U—Bishop 6 run (Simon kick)
GC—Collier 1 run (Salyer kick)
U—Bishop 12 pass from Spears (kick failed)
GC—McClung 52 pass from Collier (kick failed)
GC—Collier 77 run (Salyer kick)
GC—Lunsford 6 pass from Collier (Salyer kick)
U—Summers 2 run (Simon kick)
U—Bishop 16 run (Simon kick)
U—Summers 1 run (Simon kick)
Team Stats
First Downs: GC 18, U 22; Rushes-Yards: GC 33-176, U 44-269; Passing Yards: GC 210, U 111; Comp.-Att.-Int.: GC 16-22-1, U 10-16-0; Fumbles-Lost: GC 0-0, U 0-0; Penalties-Yards: GC 9-95, U 4-30; Punts-Average: GC 1-33, U 1-35
It took a fourth quarter interception by Bryce Spears to give Union the only stop of the Gate City offense and an opportunity to remain undefeated. The Gate City potent offense scored on every prior offensive drive leading up to the arrant pass and resulting interception. The Blue Devils appeared to be running out of steam in the fourth quarter and blitzes by the Bears caused the Gate City team to make mistakes.
The Bears overcame a 20-13 half-time deficit in the fourth quarter behind running back Devan Summers’ two touchdowns and a 16 yard run by Braxton Bishop. GC took the second half kickoff and marched down the field and scored to seemingly take control of the game when Hunter Collier hit Lunsford with a 6 yard pass while milking the clock away from the Bears.
Union kicked their offense into gear and was helped with two big GC penalties to breath life into a late game rally when Summers hit pay dirt behind a 2 yard run to get within 7 with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter.
After a good kickoff return by Gate City, the Blue Devils began marching down the field, but a pair of penalties and a blitz orchestrated defense by the Bears lead to a mistake by the Blue Devils that allowed for the Spears interception.
A penalty of un-sportsman like conduct on the interception return backed the Bears up to the Union 10-yard line. Spears orchestrated a drive of 90 yard that had Bishop make a strong run off the right side in an old school T formation to tie the game with 6:08 remaining in the game.
Union’s defense held the exhausted Blue Devils and forced the only punt of the night. With 48 seconds remaining, the Union Bears scored on a Summers 1 yard run to go ahead of the Blue Devils and keep an un-defeated season alive and the win of 34-27.
Players of the Game
1. Bryce Spears - Union
2. Devan Summers - Union
3. Braxton Bishop - Union
Bryce Spears
Spears was the play caller on offense but the key interception in the fourth quarter stopped the Blue Devils from taking a commanding lead and giving the Bears their first loss of the season.
Devan Summers and Braxton Bishop
The running back tandem of Summers and Bishop powered three back to back drives to earn Union the win. The Blue Devils had spent all of the steam, late in the game, with players going both ways.
Keys to Victory
The Union defense was the key to victory for the Bears. The defense behind linebackers Cameron Fannon and Bishop kept pressure on the Blue Devils quarterback and made key stops in the fourth quarter. The Bears’ offense went back to old school, basic football and ran the football right at the Gate City defense.
Summary
Gate City is the best 0-5 team on anyone’s schedule. Do not take them lightly. This was a different Blue Devil’s team than played the Abingdon Falcons on week 2. After playing the Bluefield Beavers, ranked 2nd in their Division in the state of West Virginia, to a close game the previous week, the Blue Devil’s came into Bullitt Park ready for a huge win. They almost pulled off a major upset. This will be an eye opener for the Bears.
