UNION CITY, MI (WTVB) – Union City reached the end of the road in their 2026 MHSAA Football Playoff journey, as the red-hot Jonesville Comets ran past the Chargers 52-30 in a Division 7 District Final Friday night at Alumni Field.
Jonesville scored on their opening drive, on a 23-yard pass from Carson Young to Reese Rundquist. Union City answered on their first drive, with a 5-yard Trey MacDonald TD run. With the score tied 6-6, the Comets would score 22 unanswered points, including a 21-yard Young-to-Rundquist connection, an 80-yard fumble return touchdown by Lucas Stanton, and a 56-yard John Milks touchdown run, to take a 28-14 halftime lead.
Jonesville’s defense slowed down the Charger rushing attack, forcing the offense to pass the ball. On the first play from scrimmage of the second half, Braxton Miller threw a 63-yard strike to Carter Beziare. 28-14 was the closest Union City would get the rest of the night, as Jonesville scored on a 2-yard Milks run and a 49-yard pass from Young to Kash Keller to end the third quarter. In the fourth, Miller found Micah Payne for a 55-yard score, Milks ran in his third touchdown from 2 yards out, and Miller tossed a 7-yard TD pass to Hank “The Tank” Leson.
Union City finished with 319 yards of total offense, but they were held to 97 rushing yards. Jonesville had 314 yards of offense, with 208 yards on the ground. The Chargers had a -3 turnover margin, with an interception and two lost fumbles.
Braxton Miller was 9-of-16 passing for 222 yards, three touchdowns, and a pick. Trey MacDonald finished with 11 carries for 67 yards and Union City’s only rushing TD. Micah Payne had three receptions for 90 yards, while Hank Leson and Kenny Case each had two receptions for 33 yards. Liam Payne had a team-high 7 tackles, with MacDonald contributing 6.
For Jonesville, John Milks had 183 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns. Carson Young was 4-of-9 passing for 106 yards, three TDs, and no interceptions. Reece Rundquist had three receptions for 57 yards and two scores, and Kash Keller had a 49-yard TD grab. Harper Griffiths led the defense with 10 tackles.
The loss ends Union City’s season at 8-3. Jonesville improved to 7-4 with their fifth straight win. They will travel to Ottawa Lake Whiteford next week to play for a Regional title. Whiteford advanced with a 38-34 win at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
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MHSAA FOOTBALL DISTRICT FINAL SCOREBOARD
D1-R1-D1: Portage Central 33, Grandville 18
D2-R1-D1: Byron Center 59, Portage Northern 37
D3-R2-D1: Thornapple Kellogg 41, St Joseph 13
D3-R2-D2: Zeeland West 48, Battle Creek Central 12
D4-R2-D1: Portland 35, Edwardsburg 17
D4-R2-D2: Grand Rapids South Christian 51, Stevensville Lakeshore 0
D6-R3-D1: Jackson Lumen Christi 37, Napoleon 0
D6-R3-D2: Belding 28, Olivet 20
D7-R3-D1: Ravenna at Constantine, Saturday at 1 p.m.
D7-R3-D2: North Muskegon at Schoolcraft, Saturday at 1 p.m.
D8-R3-D1: Hudson 35, Fowler 0
D8-R3-D2: Springport 34, Decatur 22
MHSAA 8-PLAYER FOOTBALL REGIONAL FINAL SCOREBOARD
8PD1-R3: Colon 30, Climax-Scotts 20
8PD2-R3: Marcellus at Mendon, Saturday at 1 p.m.
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