HORTON, MI (WTVB) – The Union City Chargers won their first MHSAA Football Playoff game in three years, collecting 481 yards of total offense in their 42-13 win at Hanover-Horton in a Division 7 District Semifinal.
The Chargers scored on their first possession of the game, capping off a nearly 5-minute drive with a 4-yard touchdown run by Logan Mears. After giving up a 68-yard TD run to Hanover-Horton’s Kolin Griffiths, Union City scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter, on a 40-yard run by Mears, a 3-yard scamper by Brendan Labar, and a 13-yard pass from Eli Payne to Rick Austin. Comet QB Luke Soper threw a 37-yard TD pass to Austyn Hocter to cut the lead to 28-13, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the night.
Union City added two more scores in the second half, on TD passes to Austin from 34 and 23 yards out.
Labar finished with 162 yards on 24 carries, while Mears had 10 carries for 123 yards as the Chargers outran the Comets 371-98. Payne was 5-of-7 passing for 89 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Austin’s three TD receptions were good for 70 yards, Andrew Tundevold had a 10-yard catch, and Aidan Decker added a 9-yard reception.
Decker and Montana Connell had 6 tackles apiece to lead the defense, while Reed Goodwin added 5.
Union City improves to 9-1 and will travel to Hudson next Friday at 7 p.m. to play for a District title. The Tigers advanced with a 38-9 win against Napoleon. Hanover-Horton’s season ends at 8-2.
Listen to the game again:
OTHER 11-PLAYER DISTRICT SEMIFINAL SCORES
- Division 1: Howell 35, Kalamazoo Central 12
- Division 2: Portage Central 28, Portage Northern 12
- Division 2: Mattawan 27, Lansing Everett 21
- Division 3: St Joseph 41, Stevensville Lakeshore 21
- Division 4: Edwardsburg 29, Harper Creek 8
- Division 4: Niles 42, Paw Paw 14
- Division 4: Hastings 35, Ionia 0
- Division 4: Haslett 42, Parma Western 21
- Division 5: Kalamazoo United 33, South Haven 7
- Division 5: Berrien Springs 14, Dowagiac 6
- Division 6: Olivet 49, Buchanan 15
- Division 6: Constantine 39, Parchment 14
- Division 6: Jackson Lumen Christi 42, Dearborn Heights Robichaud 8
- Division 7: Lawton 42, Coloma 6
- Division 7: Schoolcraft 28, Bronson 14
- Division 8: Decatur 34, Centreville 6
- Division 8: Saugatuck 24, White Pigeon 22
- Division 8: Springport 38, Addison 14
- Division 8: Reading 36, Sand Creek 0
8-PLAYER REGIONAL SEMIFINAL SCORES
- Division 1: Martin 52, Gobles 22
- Division 1: Mendon 58, Climax-Scotts 50
- Division 2: Britton Deerfield 58, Adrian Lenawee Christian 15
- Division 2: Pittsford 52, Burr Oak 22
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