SALTSBURG 39, UNION 7

Nov. 2, 2006

RIMERSBURG – Union’s 2006 football season came to a disappointing ending with a 39-7 loss to previously winless Saltsburg Thursday night in Rimersburg.

The win snapped a 16-game losing streak for the Trojans (1-9), whose last win came 21-20 over Ligonier Valley Sept. 9, 2005.

A 20-point second quarter and an unstoppable ground game made sure Saltsburg’s losing streak won’t be extended to 17.

The Trojans ran 40 times for 457 yards and had two backs top 100 yards and a third come within eight yards of the century mark. Saltsburg averaged 11.4 yards per carry and had 284 yards rushing in the first half. Of the Trojans 40 carries, nine went for 20 yards or more.

Tyler Beitel paced Saltsburg with eight totes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while Glenn Carr added 15 carries for 137 yards and a touchdown. Nick Reese chipped in with 11 rushes for 92 yards and a score.

Union had its own 100-yard runner with sophomore Colby Davis picking up a career-high 161 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. It was Davis’ second 100-yard game of the season and the fourth of his career. Most of Davis’ damage came in the second half when he carried 20 times for 103 yards including five straight carries for 41 yards during the Knights (2-8) lone scoring drive.

The game was scoreless through a quarter before Saltsburg scored twice in a span of 3:14 in the second quarter to take a 13-0 lead.

Reese got the Trojans on the scoreboard with a 4-yard run with 10:36 left in the first half before Manny Speal’s 21-yard scoring run at 7:21 made it 13-0.

Beitel scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 9-yard run with 2:38 lefty in the half giving Saltsburg a 20-0 halftime lead.

Any hopes of a Union comeback were all but dashed 53 seconds in to the second half when Carr scored on a 19-yard run making it 27-0.

Davis finally got Union on the board midway through the third quarter on a 7-yard run to cut Saltsburg’s lead to 27-7, but a 1-yard run by Jonathan Taylor on Saltburg’s next possession put the game away. Beitel then scored his second touchdown of the game on a 46-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.

Saltsburg 0-20-13-6 – 39

Union 0-0-7-0 – 7

SB – Nick Reese 4-yard run (kick failed), 10:36.

SB – Manny Speal, 21-yard run (Jeff Miller kick), 7:21.

SB – Tyler Beitel, 9-yard run (Miller kick), 2:38.

SB – Glenn Carr, 19-yard run (Miller kick), 11:07.

UN – Colby Davis, 7-yard run (Aaron Paulden kick), 5:49.

SB – Jonathan Taylor, 1-yard run (kick failed), 4:23.

SB – Beitel, 46-yard run (kick failed), 8:44.

First downs: 14; 13

Rushes-Yards: 40-457; 45-179

Passing Yards: 0; 16

Comp-Att-Int: 0-3-0; 4-9-1

Total Yards: 457; 195

Penalties-Yards: 5-45; 4-25

Punts-Avg: 1-32.0; 4-30.7

Fumbles-Lost: 2-2; 3-1

Rushing – Saltsburg: Tyler Beitel 8-181; Glenn Carr 15-137; Nick Reese 11-92; Manny Speal 3-36; Jonathan Taylor 3-11. Union: Colby Davis 32-161; Trent Switzer 8-24; Kasey Kriebel 2-7; Team 1-(-2); Zach Himes 4-(-11).

Passing – Saltsburg: Speal 0-of-3. Union: Himes 4-of-9, 16 yards, INT.

Receiving – Union: T. Switzer 2-13, Moore 2-3.

Interceptions – Saltsburg: Andy Fortwangler (1).

Sacks – Saltsburg: Brandon Pate (1); Alex Summerson (1).