RIMERSBURG —- The Union varsity football team got off to a rough start, losing to the Redbank Valley Bulldogs 20-14 Friday night.

After being the primary running back in 2010, Taylor Smith took over as quarterback for Union and went 7-of-15 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns and also added 51 yards rushing.

But he also threw two interceptions.

Golden Knights coach Dave Louder said Smith knows how to forget a bad play.

“As a sophomore, he'd get down on himself,” Louder said. “(Now) he throws an interception, but right away he's back in the game. He made some great passes.”

The Knights scored first with Smith's 28-yard pass to wide receiver Brody Pollock in the second quarter.

It wasn't until late in the first half when Bulldogs freshman quarterback Jake Dougherty and senior Keaton Delp hooked up for two touchdown passes within one minute of each other.

After a missed point after on the first score, the second touchdown was followed by Mark Strothers' conversion run for a 14-8 lead, which the Bulldogs held at halftime.

Bulldogs coach Ed Wasilowski said he understands some first-quarter jitters by his freshman quarterback.

“You're going to have that early on, he's a freshman,” Wasilowski said. “But (later) he stared down the gun barrel.”

The Knights weren't finished yet. Smith connected with Brandon Tyson for a 43-yard pass with 6:12 in the third quarter, but a conversion run which would have given Union the lead failed.

The game was tied until 7:50 remained in the fourth quarter, when Dougherty threw a 92-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Smith.

The Knights will try to bounce back when they play Saegertown next week.