Colegrove powers North Union past Janesville
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ARMSTRONG - For its second straight season, the North Union football program has won its opening-round matchup in the IHSAA 8-Player Football Playoffs.
Last year's victory was a 56-48 shootout over GTRA. But Friday night's result was much more dominant. Following Max Heinen's opening kickoff touchdown 10 seconds in, North Union scored seven more times throughout the four quarters, fueling a 55-0 win over the visiting Janesville Wildcats.
Stringing two consecutive seasons with postseason success was important for Warriors head coach Matt Ernster. It's a sign his program continues to take positive steps.
"It's awesome," Ernster said. "It's been a long time coming and a process to build this thing. I'm just lucky that I have great kids and great coaches who have put in a lot of work into making this what it is. It feels really good."
This time around, however, expectations aren't stopping after one victory. North Union now sits at 8-1. Ernster and his team hope this victory is just step one in a potential deep playoff push.
"We're really happy about it. We're going to celebrate for about 24 hours, find out who we are going to play in the morning and get back to work," Ernster said. "We didn't set out those big long-term goals at the beginning of the season, but just took it week by week. But I think these guys know that. In the back of their minds, they know they are talented enough and can play with anybody in the state. That's the goal. To take this thing as far as we possibly can."
Warriors quarterback Greyson Colegrove had another strong showing. His dual-threat capabilities on the ground and through the air were on full display. It started with his legs.
Five plays helped North Union claw to the Wildcats’ 19-yard line on its second series. A fake option pitch set Colegrove for a run up the middle, cutting upfield before bouncing left and past the goal line.
Colegrove’s final rushing touchdown was a bit more creative. Facing a third-and-nine, the senior rolled left to scan his downfield options. Colegrove scrambled, initially running down the sideline before a pair of hesitation jukes helped him dodge a handful of Janesville tacklers. A cutback to the opposite field finished a 40-yard score and pushed North Union ahead 21-0.
North Union tacked on three touchdowns to finish the second quarter. Colegrove's 22-yard quarterback run set up a wide-open connection to Cooper Hoye in the end zone. Carson Crouch notched his first of two scores on the night with a lengthy rush that saw the running back cut up the middle before taking it to his right.
The first half ended with Colegrove completing what Ernster said was his best in-game throw of the season so far. A fourth and six near Janesville's 30-yard line saw Colegrove scan left before looking the other way. There he saw Hoye with one-on-one coverage. The perfect throw and catch with 1:49 in the second quarter stamped North Union's early offensive explosion.
"It hasn't been in our arsenal all year because we've been so good in the run game. We haven't really had to do that," Ernster said in reference to Colegrove and the passing attack. "He's a true dual-threat guy. The passing stats haven't really been there because we haven't had to. But talent-wise, he's phenomenal. He did a great job in elevating his game tonight."
The Warriors scored two more times in the third and fourth quarters. Crouch netted his 21st touchdown of the season on North Union's opening second-half possession. Jackson Hutchinson crossed the pylon with 4:22 remaining.
Friday was the Warriors’ second shutout performance of the year. The Wildcats entered the contest averaging just under 30 points per game, but quarterback Calvin Murray and his unit never gained momentum while facing a swarming North Union back end. It was the fifth time this season North Union has held an opponent to seven points or less.
"I thought the defense was just unreal," Ernster said. "They've done a lot of good things on offense over there with their passing game, but I just thought we were just outstanding from start to finish. ...We threw a lot of stuff at them [in practice] while adding stuff in. But it's a group that we can. They're football smart and just play so well together."