Late Touchdown Propels Union Football Past Kentucky Christian

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Union Commonwealth University's football team (3-4, 2-2 AAC) defeated Kentucky Christian (3-4, 1-3 AAC) 32-28 Saturday night at Williamson Stadium.

Last season, the Bulldogs topped KCU 30-27 in Grayson, Kentucky. This time, Union rallied in the fourth quarter to complete another dramatic win over the Knights.

Game Recap

First Quarter: Kentucky Christian 7, Union Commonwealth 6
The Knights received the opening kickoff, as returner Nehemiah Williams took kicker Jayce Gager's kick to the Union 45-yard line. Kentucky Christian drove to the Union 1-yard line before quarterback Jackson Wasik was tackled for a 3-yard loss and fumbled. Defensive end John Law recovered the ball at the Union 4.

Union responded with a seven-play, 96-yard drive lasting 3 minutes, 41 seconds. On second-and-9 from the KCU 10-yard line, quarterback Cooper Wick rolled right and found wide receiver Dom Jones Jr. in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The Bulldogs went for two, but Grabowski's pass to wide receiver Wyatt Morris fell incomplete. Union led 6-0 with 8:28 left in the quarter.

Running back Tajii Jackson rushed for 64 yards on the drive, including runs of 32 and 29 yards. Quarterbacks Cooper Wick and Grabowski combined for 26 passing yards, while running back Michael Albin added a 6-yard completion on a halfback pass.

On the next possession, KCU went 60 yards in seven plays. Wasik connected with wide receiver Jalen Briscoe for an 18-yard touchdown, and kicker Zach Yuhasz added the extra point to give the Knights a 7-6 lead with 5:26 remaining.

Both teams traded punts to close the quarter. Union regained possession at its own 36-yard line with 1:07 left and reached the KCU 47 before time expired.

Second Quarter: Kentucky Christian 21, Union Commonwealth 16
Union opened the quarter with the ball. Wick completed two passes to wide receiver Ermon Varner for 31 yards, moving to the KCU 16-yard line. Running back Qua Powell rushed for six yards, and a Kentucky Christian unsportsmanlike penalty placed the ball at the KCU 5. On fourth-and-goal, Jackson leapt over the line for a touchdown. Gager's extra point made it 13-7 Union with 11 minutes left in the half.

The Knights responded with a 10-play, 91-yard drive capped by a 1-yard rushing score from running back Jovari Gamble. After a false start negated a missed point-after attempt, Yuhasz connected on his second try, giving the Knights a 14-13 lead with 7:09 to go.

Union's next drive stalled at the KCU 15, where kicker Gager hit a 32-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs ahead 16-14 with 1:53 remaining.

KCU's hurry-up offense answered again, covering 69 yards in eight plays. Wasik ran untouched for a 10-yard touchdown, and Yuhasz's extra point made it 21-16 Knights at halftime.

Third Quarter: Kentucky Christian 21, Union Commonwealth 16
Union received the second-half kickoff but punted after reaching its own 40-yard line. Kentucky Christian then drove to the Union 11, but the Bulldog defense forced a turnover on downs when Wasik's fourth-down pass fell incomplete in the end zone.

Both teams traded punts for the remainder of the quarter, which ended with KCU driving at the Union 24. The score stayed 21-16.

Fourth Quarter: Union Commonwealth 32, Kentucky Christian 28
KCU scored early in the quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Wasik to wide receiver Jason Cobb. A penalty gave the Knights a second try at the extra point, and Yuhasz converted to make it 28-16 with 13:40 left.

Union's next drive ended in a short punt, but the defense held firm, forcing a KCU punt that resulted in a touchback.

Starting at its own 20, Union pieced together a 12-play, 80-yard drive. On second-and-goal from the KCU 3, running back Jackson cut outside and found the end zone. Gager's kick pulled Union within 28-23 with 7:42 to play.

KCU's next possession ended when defensive back DJ Washington intercepted Wasik, but the Bulldogs turned it over on downs at the KCU 36.

With 4:46 left, Kentucky Christian backed up to its own 11-yard line. Wasik was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety that brought Union within 28-25 with 3:32 remaining.

Union took over at its own 32. On third-and-3 from the KCU 16, Wick found wide receiver Dom Jones Jr. for their second touchdown connection of the night. Gager's extra point put Union ahead 32-28 with 38 seconds left.

KCU started from its own 43, but defensive back Samuel Hawthorne forced a strip-sack on Wasik, and defensive lineman Byron Gee recovered the fumble with 19 seconds remaining to seal the win.

By the Numbers
Union led in:
• First downs (28-25)
• Fourth-down conversions (75%-50%)
• Total offense (433-353)
• Forced turnovers (2-1)

To see the Access Health Player of the Game, click here.

Up Next
Union begins a two-game road trip to close the season at the Hambley Athletic Complex against Pikeville on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m.