Homecoming for Union High School arrived earlier on the calendar than in previous years and the Knights, newcomers to Class 2A in 2012, welcomed the Osage Green Devils in what was billed as a game featuring two explosive, high-powered offenses. Unfortunately for the visitors, the Union defense came to play in what was a hard-hitting, physical contest.

Unlike previous games this season, the Union offense started slowly and were forced to punt on their opening possession. Once they got going, though, the points came quickly.

Following a fourth down stop near mid-field by the Union defense, quarterback Jay Scheel moved the Knights quickly down the field. His 41 yard dash to the end zone on the fifth play of the drive put Union up, 6-0, midway through the first quarter.

A Nic Peters interception put the ball back into the hands of the Union offense, which wasted little time finding the end zone. This time, Trev Hadachek did the honors with a three yard run and a successful two point conversion.

Following another Osage punt, Scheel ran 83 yards to score Union’s third touchdown of the quarter.

While the offense had its usual share of highlights, the big story of the game was the dominance of Union’s D, limiting Osage to less than a yard per carry on the ground and picking off two Osage passes as part of a four takeaway effort.

On Friday, the Knights travel to Cascade for a non-district contest against a team whose only loss came in the season’s opening week against Maquoketa.