Union County blasts East Hall, 49-8, to earn first regular-season win

Rabbittown, Ga. – The Union County High football team scored early and often in a 49-8 route of Class AAA’s East Hall on Friday night to earn the first win of the 2019 campaign.

The Panthers (1-0) scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, and the defense stifled the home-team Vikings, to put Union County up 21-0 heading into the second frame.

The first three touchdowns of the game came on the legs and hands of junior running back Jonah Daniel, who rushed for two scores and caught another during the first half.

Daniel finished the night with more than 200 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Pierson Allison also had a good night, running for a touchdown and throwing for another, as the Panthers scored three more times in the second half to earn the blowout victory.

Union County coach Brian Allison said after the game that he was pleased with the outcome, but that the team still had plenty to improve upon before next week’s game.

“Our effort was really good tonight, but we made a few mistakes here and there that we have to fix going forward,” Allison said. “Missing some blocks, we had a few penalties, stuff like that that we half to correct. But overall, I thought our effort was great and our execution was pretty good.”

While Daniel put up big numbers on the ground, Allison was quick to put a lot of praise on the offensive line.

“That’s a nice job up front,” Allison told his team after the game. “We blocked really well and did a good job.”

Daniel echoed his coach after the game, saying his teammates should receive most of the credit for his big night.

“We blocked well outside and inside and those guys are the reason I was able to run the ball so well,” Daniel said after the game.

The tone set early on didn’t abate as the Panthers continued to press the offensive advantage, scoring again in the second quarter and keeping East Hall out of the endzone to take a 28-0 lead into halftime.

Union County started the game quickly. The team kicked off to open the game, but the Vikings muffed the kickoff catch and the Panthers recovered, setting up a first down on the East Hall 26-yard-line.

After a run from Daniel and two passes from Allison, the Panthers had their first opportunity to score from inches out with just 10:52 left in the first quarter.

Daniel punched the ball in for the score, and the Panthers took a lead they would never relinquish at 7-0.

After the Union County defense forced a turnover on downs, the offense went to work. A few tough runs from Daniel, and a complete pass from Allison to senior Sawyer Drake, gave the Panthers a first down on the East Hall 36-yard-line. One tough run from Daniel later, and the Panthers led 14-0 with 5:20 to go in the first quarter.

After the defense forced a punt on the ensuing drive, the Union County offense went back to work, marching quickly down the field before a 38-yard touchdown pass from Allison to Daniel put the team in front 21-0 with less than 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

The scoring didn’t let up from there, as Union County scored again in the second quarter while the defense continued to stifle the East Hall attack.

Union County scored twice more in the third, and once in the fourth, to earn the big win.

Union County hosts Towns County at 7:30 p.m., Friday, September 6, in Blairsville.