Colegrove, Crouch help North Union run past Spartans
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ARMSTRONG - Max Heinen caught the ball with plenty of room to run. North Union football head coach Matt Ernster knew both Heinen and Carson Crouch made a dangerous set of weapons on kickoff return, capable of making an impact whenever they got an opportunity. But little did he know that the first special teams play of the 2026 season would result in six points.
Weaving through the middle of the field, Heinen used a handful of key blocks before bouncing towards the right sideline. Not a single white jersey neared his cleats as he trotted into the end zone. 11 seconds was all it took for North Union's first of many touchdowns during its Week 0 bout against Collins-Maxwell.
The Warriors scored six more times before halftime and once more in the fourth quarter to fuel a dominant 56-0 victory over the Spartans. A victory that will most certainly set the tone for the ensuing fall campaign.
"We are week-by-week focused right now," Ernster said. "It kind of sends a message that we might be capable of what we are pushing towards. So now it's just about taking steps forward, building week after week. In a difficult situation, with Week 0 being the way it is and hard to get out there, we played well."
Playing a week before the official season starts comes with expected growing pains. Fewer practice opportunities shorten a team’s time to coordinate alignments and cadences on the field. North Union's first drive of Friday night proved that point.
After making it deep into Spartan territory, a barrage of penalties, two holdings and an illegal procedure, temporarily halted any momentum. A mistimed snap one play later added another negative moment that set up a daunting 3rd and 32.
"It was one of those things we talked about before the game," Ernster said. "We knew it was going to be sloppy at times. We got into that situation early in the first half where it was third and very long. ...But we talked about trying to bounce back from things that happen. Whether it's positive or negative, just moving to the next thing and keeping our minds clear."
One way to counter adversity is leaning on senior leadership. The most important leader for the Warrior offense is quarterback Greyson Colegrove. Entering his third season manning this side of the ball, Ernster and his coaching staff expect big things from the veteran presence.
Moments after the 20-yard loss, fans saw why Colegrove's reputation is in such high regard. Taking a direct snap, the dual-threat playmaker barged through Collins-Maxwell's second level, taking his path near the Warriors sideline before walking into the end zone with a proud posture.
"The thing I was most proud of was how physical he ran," Ernster said. "When we got opportunities in the open field, he didn't shy away from contact. Using his frame, he's done a lot of hard work in the weight room to put himself in that position. It was good to see him take that next step. We've always known he's had the speed to do that stuff. ...He just becomes a multi-faceted part of the offense that makes him really dangerous."
One of the most important North Union storylines heading into the season was the question mark in the backfield. Former Warriors running back Draven Keeler took all 1231 yards and 19 touchdowns with him upon graduation, leaving big shoes to fill in the position.
But Crouch’s emergence as the Warriors’ main ball carrier offered an early indication that North Union could smoothly transition from Keeler. Ernster described the junior's running style as a bit different from his previous ball carrier - one who uses quickness and agility to maneuver the field.
Crouch's pair of seven- and 13-yard rushes on the opening drive were mere snapshots of what he's capable of. On the Warriors’ second offensive opportunity, Crouch used his "scat-back" style to make it a three-possession game, taking a run up the middle for 26 yards for his first of three scores.
"He's got some special talents," Ernster said. "He's a different kind of runner than we've had in past years here. But he's very good and fits our stuff well. The ability to jump-cut and vision is really good. ...I thought he did that in a lot of different ways in a lot of his runs. Very patient, but when he has his chance, he can put his shoulder down and run through some arm tackles too."
Colegrove's 22-yard scamper set up North Union's third score on three possessions. Moving to his left, the senior connected with wide receiver Caden Zotz on a quick out route for six.
Crouch tacked on his final two touchdowns in the second quarter, running for 40 and 20 yards before passing the goal line. He finished with 126 yards on just six carries. Over 20 yards per touch.
Backup quarterback Drake Nelsen added one more score in the last moments before intermission. After his 18-yard sprint to the end zone, the eastside scoreboard read 49-0 in favor of the Warriors.
North Union finished the contest with 349 yards of offense. All but 28 came from its powerful rushing attack. Max Merrill's presence at center was known as an anchor heading into the fall. But Ernster's two new lineman additions - Kyan Walter and Kaden Grimm - showed they can take their talents to the varsity level.
"We kind of knew those guys were going to step into really good roles for us," Ernster said. "Had really good junior varsity seasons last year, so we had a lot of confidence in them. They did a good job. When we go back and watch the film, I think we'll be really happy with some of the things we did."
The Warriors’ dominance went beyond the offensive statistics. It was the defense that consistently gave possessions to their counterpart after forcing seven straight empty Spartan trips and one first down in the opening half.
North Union piled up 13 tackles for a loss, four sacks, one interception and a pair of turnovers on downs, including a defensive stand on the goal line during the fourth quarter to keep the shutout intact.
Linebackers were filling holes, defensive linemen were getting off blocks and the secondary made things nearly impossible for Spartans quarterback Reagan Peters. Peters finished with 119 yards through the air, most of which came in the final two Collins-Maxwell drives of the game.
"In our 'One's' group, as we call it, we've got almost 14 or 15 guys who we rotate through," Ernster said. "That plays a big role. Our depth is really good, but there is not a drop-off. We go from our starters to our guys in the next series and the series after that; it's a funnel of guys that are very athletic and aggressive. That's a big thing, and we preach that."
The Warriors experience their first road test of the season next Friday against Newell-Fonda. Kickoff at Newell-Fonda Community School is set for 7:00 p.m. It will be the Mustangs’ first official game of the season after their scrimmage against Boyer Valley.