NEW BETHLEHEM — Union/A-C Valley's offensive playmakers are used to their efforts leading to points.

In Thursday night's game at Redbank Valley, they were almost always followed by disappointment.

Aside from one scoring drive in the third quarter, the Falcon Knights were consistently turned away in a 10-7 loss to the Bulldogs.

“At times, we were able to get some things going, but we didn't do it when we really needed to,” said Union/A-C Valley coach Brad Dittman. “We were just a couple of plays away from this being a different ball game.”

After a first half which saw them gain just 49 yards of offense, the Falcon Knights appeared to get on track on their first possession of the third quarter.

Trailing 2-0 thanks to a safety in the second period, quarterback Tanner Merwin marched his team 67 yards in seven plays, the final one going for a 27-yard touchdown pass to Karter Vogle on a 4th-and-7.

Colton Murray added the extra point, but the Falcon Knights' 7-2 lead was soon erased.

Redbank (3-0) answered with a 60-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard scoring pass from Gunner Mangiantini to Trenten Rupp.

Marquese Gardlock followed with a catch for the two-point conversion and the Bulldogs were back on top, 10-7.

“We weren't expecting them to score first in the second half,” said RV coach Blane Gold, “but felt if we could get the lead back, we could control the game.”

Union/A-C Valley (3-1) moved the ball to Redbank's 20 on the next drive, but turned the ball over on downs.

Their final chance began with just 54 seconds left in the game. Out of time outs, Merwin completed an 18-yard pass to Vogle and a short pass to Caden Rainey to the Falcon Knights' 43 as time expired.

The outcome of another possession had Dittman second-guessing himself after the game.

The Bulldogs had taken their 2-0 lead when Merwin was swarmed in his own end zone for a safety with 4:56 left in the second period.

The Falcon Knights were on the verge of taking a lead into halftime, facing a 4th-and-goal from Redbank's 5 with just four seconds left in the second quarter.

Dittman elected to go for the touchdown, but on a designed run, Merwin was tackled at the 3-yard line.

“I should have had Colton kick the field goal,” said Dittman. “He's been working hard and has more than enough leg to make that kick.”

Union/A-C Valley's defense played well, holding the Bulldogs to just 149 yards of offense.

The Falcon Knights, who visit South Side next Friday, were without starting tackle/linebacker Drayk Wolbert, who was injured last week against Curwensville.

“We struggled putting things together (on the offensive line) this week,” Dittman said. “Redbank brings a lot of pressure and we struggled against that.”

<b>Union/A-C Valley 0 0 7 0 — 7Redbank Valley 0 2 8 0 — 10Second Quarter</b>RV — Joe Mansfield tackled Tanner Merwin in end zone for safety, 4:56<b>Third Quarter</b>U-ACV — Karter Vogle 27 pass from Merwin (Colton Murray kick), 9:08RV — Trenten Rupp 23 pass from Gunner Mangiantini (Marquese Gardlock pass from Mangiantini), 4:25<b>Individual StatisticsRushing:Union/A-C Valley,</b> Eli Penny 10-6, Kylar Culberson 13-43, Tanner Merwin 6-8, Caden Rainey 4-(-2), Karter Vogle 1-_10). <b>Redbank Valley,</b> Ray Schreckengost 11-21, Tate Minich 2-2, Hudson Martz 11-33, Brenden Schreckengost 2-(-4), Gunner Mangiantini 7-28, TEAM 1-(-5).<b>Passing:Union/A-C Valley,</b> Tanner Merwin 11-28-154-0. <b>Redbank Valley,</b> Gunner Mangiantini 9-17-74-0.<b>Receiving:Union/A-C Valley,</b> Caden Rainey 5-55, Eli Penny 1-7, Karter Vogle 4-83, Gaven Bowser 1-9. <b>Redbank Valley,</b> Chris Marshall 1-9, Marquese Gardlock 2-9, Ray Schreckengost 1-12, Dalton Bish 2-8, Tate Minich 1-7, Trenten Rupp 2-29.