NEW BETHLEHEM — Too much Jake Dougherty.

Redbank Valley's senior quarterback didn't manage incredible numbers in Thursday night's football game against Union — he passed for 176 yards and totaled 67 on the ground — but in the game's most crucial plays, he delivered.

He had already rushed for three touchdowns when he connected with Wyatt Hetrick on a 42-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter. Clint Thurston's ensuing extra point gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not surrender in a 36-28 defeat of the Golden Knights.

It is Union's first KSAC-Small Division loss of the season and keeps Redbank Valley tied atop the standings with Clarion.

“People don't get how much work he puts in,” said Bulldogs' coach Ed Wasilowski of his signal caller. “He's a man amongst boys. People always say that when your best player is one of the hardest-working kids on the team, it makes for an easy team to coach. That's Jake.”

Following Dougherty's touchdown pass, the Golden Knights (2-3, 2-1) embarked on a nine-play, 74-yard drive that ended with Tyler Wiser's one-yard touchdown run. Trailing 29-28, Union went for two points. Cole Morris took the shotgun snap and executed a quarterback draw. Though the play-call had been successful twice earlier in the game, this time Noah Bowser stopped Morris short of the goal-line and the Bulldogs clung to a one-point lead.

It was not a radical decision by Union coach Dave Louder. The Knights did not attempt an extra point following any of their four touchdowns in the game.

“I don't regret going for two,” he said. “We practice it and I live and die by the two-point conversion.”

The Knights got the ball back at their own 13 with 53 seconds left, but Lane Cicciarelli's pass was picked off by Austin Schreckengost near the right sideline and returned 27 yards for a touchdown.

Union's final possession ended moments later near midfield as the clock expired.

The Knights were without junior running back Dugan Gallagher, who suffered a left shoulder injury in last Friday's loss to Punxsutawney. He leads the team with 425 rushing yards, but is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

“I give a lot of credit to Union,” said Wasilowski. “They were under-manned tonight, but gave us all we could handle.”

Without one of their top players, the Knights still managed to get the Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) on the ropes in the first half. Two first-quarter scoring drives were followed by a blocked punt from Wiser that set up another score that gave Union a 22-7 lead. The second touchdown was a 35-yard run by Drew Marsh, playing in place of Gallagher.

“Offensively, we were executing,” said Louder. “It was a hell of a game.”

Redbank responded with a short scoring drive late in the first half, capped with Dougherty's 2-yard run that made it 22-14. The Bulldogs tied the game late in the third quarter when Dougherty scored from seven yards out, then ran in the two-point conversion.

Dougherty, who has passed for over 4,000 yards in his varsity career, hurt the Knights with his legs in the second half, gaining 62 yards on 11 carries over the final two quarters, including three gains that moved the chains on third down.

“We have struggled with our tackling this season,” said Louder. “We're getting guys to the ball, but aren't making the tackles.”

The road gets no easier for Union. It faces Karns City next Friday.

Redbank Valley 36, Union 28

Union 14 8 0 6 — 28

Redbank Valley 7 7 8 14 — 36

U RV

14 First Downs 17

30-96 Rushes-Yards 34-159

168 Passing Yards 176

19-26-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 15-21-1

264 Total Yards 335

0-0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0

6-55 Penalty Yards 9-75

First Quarter

U — Gavin Hawk 13 pass from Lane Cicciarelli (pass failed), 6:44

RV — Jake Dougherty 4 run (Clint Thurston kick), 2:46

U — Drew Marsh 35 run (Cole Morris run), :40

Second Quarter

U — Tyler Wiser 12 pass from Cicciarelli (Morris run), 8:33

RV — Dougherty 2 run (Thurston kick), 1:40

Third Quarter

RV — Dougherty 7 run (Dougherty run), 3:32

Fourth Quarter

RV — Wyatt Hetrick 42 pass from Dougherty (Thurston kick), 11:24

U — Wiser 1 run (run failed), 7:08

RV — Austin Schreckengost 27 interception return (Thurston kick), :45

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Union, Tyler Wiser 3-10, Drew Marsh 9-55, Lane Cicciarelli 12-23, Cole Morris 4-8, Chet Carmichael 1-(-2), Daniel Roberts 1-2. Redbank Valley, Colten Mohney 14-69, Jake Dougherty 15-67, Connor Shoemaker 2-6, Curtis Mohney 3-17.

Passing: Union, Lane Cicciarelli 19-26-168-1. Redbank Valley, Jake Dougherty 15-21-176-1.

Receiving: Union, Tyler Wiser 6-78, Chet Carmichael 6-37, Gavin Hawk 1-13, Cole Morris 5-32, Drew Marsh 1-8. Redbank Valley, Devin Schimp 1-4, Connor Shoemaker 2-9, Nick Shoemaker 6-70, Wyatt Hetrick 3-45, Korbin Hornberger 2-45, Curtis Mohney 1-3.