Although the middle school Spartans and Dark Horses were able to get their game from last week under way Monday, a downed official with 1:37 minutes left in the first quarter delayed the game roughly 40 minutes.

It soon became a waiting game on the field, waiting for the ambulance that is, which took roughly 30 of the 40 minutes to get to Union High School’s field. Once the official was taken off the field, the game got right back on track.

The referee was injured during a play, when a Union Spartan tackled a Dark Horse in bounds, sending the two players sliding out of bounds and into the referee who had not gotten out of the way quick enough.

He reportedly injured his arm on the play.

Back on the field after the incident, the first score of the evening came off Union’s Desmond Faison who ran the ball in 20 yards with 2:05 left in the half. Faison also ran in the two-point conversion, making the score 8-0.

Despite attempts by the Dark Horse offense in the first half, Sampson Middle would not get into the end zone until the second half.

The score for Sampson came off a 40-yard run by Jahde Wilson. Union stopped the extra point to make the score 8-6.

“They tried an onside kick; we recovered it at the midfield, and with 4:38 to go in the game Desmond Faison scored from 3 yards out to make it 14-6,” Union’s head coach Eddie Bass reported.

Union’s final score of the night came with 1:28 to go after Faison was able to run the ball in again.

“He scored all three touchdowns of the day,” Bass highlighted.

The Spartans won the game 20-6.

As for leading players on the field, Bass continued, “Hagan Thornton played one of the best defensive games today that anyone has played for me in 28 years.”

According to Bass, Thornton led the team with nine tackles.

“He played a great, great game,” Bass emphasized, adding that Kenya Robinson and Dawan Carr also played well defensively.

Faison was obviously the leading rusher with 18 carries for 118 yards; three touchdowns; and a two-point conversion.

Union stands undefeated 3-0 and will meet the Leopards of Roseboro-Salemburg Middle School Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at (910) 592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonnc.com