Union City tops Athens to win Jug
Union City beats rival Athens, 60-18, to win Little Brown Jug for 15th straight season
Union City tops Athens to win Jug Union City beats rival Athens, 60-18, to win Little Brown Jug for 15th straight season Check out this story on battlecreekenquirer.com: http://bcene.ws/1UN2knE
Published 11:38 p.m. ET Sept. 11, 2015 | Updated 12:52 a.m. ET Sept. 12, 2015
Union City at Athens - Little Brown Jug
Jalen Boes, of Union City, catches a pass over Robert Hind of Athens in the Chargers' win to earn the Little Brown Jug. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Athens' Robert Hind carries the ball against Union City on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Union City's Jalen Boes lays out for a pass against Athens on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Athens looks for running room against Union City on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Union City quarterback Seth Bruce throws with pressure from Athens. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Union City's Colin Kreger breaks loose vs. Athens on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Athens running back Robert Hind delivers a stiff arm against Union City on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Union City and Athens line up in the annual 'Little Brown Jug' game on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
The Athens student section lends its support vs. Union City on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Union City's Elijah Way breaks free against Athens on Friday. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Athens players get pumped up ahead of the team's annual 'Little Brown Jug' matchup with Union City. Kenny Read/For the Enquirer
Jalen Boes, of Union City, catches a pass over Robert Hind of Athens in the Chargers' win to earn the Little Brown Jug.(Photo: Kenny Read/For the Enquirer)
ATHENS – Three backs led the way for the Union City Chargers against the Athens Indians on Friday night in Big 8 conference action at Athens High School.
Those three backs – quarterback Seth Bruce, running backs Jalen Boes and Elijah Way – all had a big offensive games, which helped Union City pick up a lopsided victory, 60-18.
With the win, Union City now owns a 15-game winning streak in the rivalry for the Little Brown Jug, which both teams have competed for every year since 1947.
"This is a big rivalry for us," Union City head coach Brandon Bruce said. "It's been this way for 70-plus years. We love the idea of having this rivalry. It's up to the seniors to decide what fate this team will have, so that's a big part of it. The Big 8 is still up in the air. We took a step in the right direction today."
After the victory, the Chargers are now 2-1 while Athens falls to 0-3.
The Indians held the game's opening possession. Yet, it was the Chargers' opening possession with 8:15 left in the first quarter which manufactured points. Union City's Way cleared the way on a handoff give and went 85 yards for the score.
But this was a rivalry game. This game was 70 years in the making for a big brown jug. And, the next possession for Athens resulted in a six-point counter strike. This time it was the Indians' quarterback Cody Richardson running to the outside and scampering for a 58-yard score. The game was now 8-6 in favor of the Chargers while only seven minutes into the contest.
With 2:38 left in the quarter, Union City on fourth and goal from five yards converted for the touchdown. For the Chargers on the play, quarterback Seth Bruce's five-step drop and throw to the corner of the end zone resulted in a touchdown reception for Boes.
"It's good to win this game, but there are other games ahead of us," Boes said. "We got to keep moving forward and a big shoutout to the offensive line."
It was now 24-6 Union City heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the Chargers would add three scores to make it a 46-6 lead at half. That was all the scoring Union City would need.
"Our offense was really explosive tonight," Bruce said. "We have moves. I think our chances to win the Big 8 are pretty good, as long as we play as a team and play smart."
Way led on the ground with four carries for 103 yards, while Bruce had 141 yards passing. Bruce's three passing touchdowns were caught by Boes.
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