Five touchdowns from Laird propels Union City past Addison

Troy Tennyson, Coldwater Daily Reporter
·4 min read

ADDISON, MI. — Entering week six of the 2022 football season, it seems as if the Union City Chargers are being overlooked just a tad. A four game winning streak that included wins over Jonesville, Quincy, a high powered Homer squad and state ranked Reading couldn’t even garner the Chargers a Honorable Mention vote in the latest AP poll, although their opponent on Friday, Addison, found themselves inside the top 10, sitting at 9 in the Division 8 rankings. Well maybe after Friday night’s contest that may change.

For the second time this season Union City took down a Division 8 top 10 ranked team, winning their fifth straight game in the process as the Chargers rode five touchdowns from junior speedster Riley Laird to a 32-22 win over the Addison Panthers.

Addison controlled things in the early going, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter thanks to rushing touchdowns of 39 yards and 15 yards.

As they have done all season long, Union City stayed calm and made their adjustments, which quickly paid off.Early in the second quarter the Chargers finally got on the board as Riley Laird scored his first of five touchdowns, running in from 12 yards out. Jason Shoop kicked the extra point, closing the score to 14-7 in favor of the Panthers.Union City’s defense kept Addison off the board once again, getting the ball back to their offense which in turn marched down the field, eventually scoring on a 4 yard touchdown run by Laird. The extra point was no good, closing the score to 14-13 heading into the half.

Union City drew first blood in the second half of play, taking their first lead of the contest at 20-14 after Laird scored his third touchdown, a 7 yard touchdown run. Shoop knocked home the extra point, giving Union City the 20-14 lead.

The Union City defense was again very stingy, holding down a vaunted Addison rushing attack throughout the night
The Union City defense was again very stingy, holding down a vaunted Addison rushing attack throughout the night

Addison quickly answered however, hitting on a big play on the ground, scoring on a 63 yard touchdown run. After the successful 2 point conversion it was the Panthers holding a 22-20 lead after three full quarters of play.

The Union City defense picked the right time to get stingy, holding the vaunted Addison offense scoreless throughout the final quarter of play.

Union City’s offense on the other hand had different ideas. First the Chargers went through the air, hitting on a 5 yard touchdown pass from Eli Payne to Laird, giving Union City the lead once again at 26-22. Union City added a huge insurance touchdown as Laird scored from 15 yards out, his fifth score of the game, finding what would be the final score of 32-22.

Union City controlled the yardage battle, out gaining Addison 379-226, including a 215-2 advantage through the air. Addison did out gain Union City on the ground however, 224-164.

The Chargers controlled the ball, running 71 plays to Addison’s 39, picking up 18 first downs to only eight from the Panthers. Union City was downright efficient when it came to third down, converting on 10 of 14 chances while Addison only converted 1 of 8 opportunities.

Union City also won the turnover battle, only committing one turnover, an interception, while Addison lost two fumbles and threw a pick.

If there was one obvious place the Chargers struggled it was in the penalty department where Union City committed 12 penalties for 88 yards compared to only one penalty for 5 yards for the Panthers.Riley Laird had a monster game for Union City, leading the team with five total touchdowns. Laird carried the ball 26 times for 156 yards and four touchdowns while also adding three catches for 42 yards and a score.Eli Payne had an efficient game at the quarterback spot, finishing 12 of 19 for 174 yards with one score and one interception.

Sophomore Rick Austin also had a solid offensive day, completing one pass for 41 yards while hauling in three catches for 48 yards.

Junior wideout Jeremy Zehr had a monster game, his best career outing to date, hauling in seven catches for 125 total yards, including the 41 yard catch on Austin’s trick play.

Phoenix Elkins led the Charger defense with six total tackles, including one for a loss while Owen Jackson added six total tackles as well. Also chipping in for the Union City defensive effort was Colton Russell with four tackles; Luke Watson with four tackles, one for a loss; Grady Iobe with four tackles; Hunter Gillies with four tackles, one for a loss; and Landyn Crance with three tackles, one for a loss.

Luke Watson and Grady Iobe both recovered fumbles for the Charger defense while Austin Jeffries pulled in an interception.

With the loss Addison falls to 4-2 overall on the season and remains at 3-1 in the Cascade Conference. The Panthers will return to conference action next Friday when they travel to Grass Lake before heading back home to host the number one team in the conference in Napoleon.

Union City meanwhile continues to roll, rattling off their fifth straight win of the season, improving to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big 8 conference. Union City will next see action a week from Friday when they host their bitter rivals from Bronson for Homecoming.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Five touchdowns from Laird propels Union City past Addison