Unity youth football opens season

TOLONO — Unity youth football's sixth graders warmed up for their season Saturday in a scrimmage, facing the Central A&M Raiders in the hottest day of the summer.

The scrimmage was played on a 50-yard field and without special teams, but the team was eager to get on the field against another team after two weeks of practice. Unity opened the scrimmage with the ball and jumped to a quick lead as Cam Reifsteck took broke through the left side of the line and ran by the defense for a 50 yard touchdown on the first play of the day.

Central A&M answered on their first possession with a two play touchdown drive consisting of runs of 20 and 30 yards. The Rockets' next drive started well with runs of 9

and 25 yards by Lucas Stark, but stalled in the red zone and resulted in a turnover on downs. Central A&M closed the first quarter with a touchdown run of 50 yards to take a 12-6 lead.

Unity began the second quarter with a sustained drive including a Kyle Curtis 15 yard run and a 30 yard pass from Noah Hopkins to Lucas Stark, and punched the ball into the end zone to tie the game. After giving up quick touchdowns in both Central A&M possessions of the first quarter, the Rocket defense stiffened on the next possession and put the Raiders in third and 15 situation after consecutive tackles for losses by Zeke Eisenmenger and Lance Mueser. The Raiders responded with a 14 yard run to set up a fourth and goal at the 1-yard line, and ran the ball in off right tackle to recapture the lead.

The third quarter saw sustained drives by both Unity and Central A&M end in defensive stops, as Unity drove the Raiders back with tackles for loss by Cam Reifsteck, Chandler Cousins, then by the entire Rocket defense on fourth down.

Both teams scored in the fourth quarter, with the Rockets' drive supported by runs from Stark, Reifsteck, and Curtis and another pass from Hopkins to Stark.

Coach Wally Pierce stated that “The kids put out a great effort in tough conditions, and only fought harder as the game went on despite the heat.”

The Rockets now look forward to their first complete game at Villa Grove Saturday.

Story and photos provided to the County Star.