Union/A-C Valley scores playoff victory
RIMERSBURG — Union/A-C Valley’s defense may have been looking for the run, but on the first drive of the game, they couldn’t stop it.
Cameron County marched 63 yards in 11 plays, taking over six minutes off the clock, and Dylan Reider’s 20-yard run gave the Raiders an early 6-0 lead in a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal football playoff game.
The drive proved to be the exception Friday night. The rule was soon revealed — the Falcon Knights stiffening against Cameron County’s ground attack — and the hosts did not allow another scoring drive in a 31-6 victory at Vidunas Stadium.
The playoff win was the first postseason triumph since Union and A-C Valley merged football programs in 2016.
“Cameron County came out ready to play tonight, but the way our kids responded, I’m proud of them,” said Union/A-C Valley coach Brad Dittman.
The Falcon Knights will host Smethport, which eliminated Curwensville Friday, in a district semifinal at 7 p.m. next Friday.
The Raiders (5-5) rushed for 51 yards on that first drive, but managed just 74 yards on 26 carries the rest of the game.
“They took it to us early,” said Union/A-C Valley linebacker Carter Terwint, “but we bounced back. We knew we just had to worry about their running game.”
