District 9 football playoffs: Union/A-C Valley’s two-headed monster runs through Cameron County in quarterfinal win

By Aidan Treu

Eagle Correspondent

November 01, 2025 Last Updated: November 01, 2025 12:20 AM Sports

Union/A-C Valley running back Max Gallagher (23) runs into the end zone for a touchdown in a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal football game against Cameron County Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Union High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

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RIMERSBURG — Union/A-C Valley’s dominant running back duo tallied over 400 yards and six touchdowns in the Falcon Knights’ 42-12 District 9 Class 1A football quarterfinal victory over Cameron County at Vidunas Stadium Friday night.

It was a fitting time for a Halloween game considering the fear the No. 2 Falcon Knights’ running backs, Logan Skibinski and Max Gallagher, strike into opposing defenses.

Skibinski amassed 190 yards on the ground on just nine carries, finishing with over 21 yards per carry. The senior back also led the field in receiving on just one reception when he grabbed a pass from quarterback Andrew Kifer and scampered 79 yards into the end zone.

“Honestly, I can’t thank my offensive line any more really, just wide-open holes and a lot of room for me to run,” Skibinski said.

His backfield mate, Gallagher, racked up 130 yards and three ground scores on just 11 carries.

“Our running game was clicking all night long, and when that’s clicking you can do all kind of stuff,” Union/A-C Valley head coach Dan Reed said. “That was big for us, obviously, like it’s been all year.”

The rushing success did not end with them. Four other Falcon Knights carried the ball for at least 20 yards, with Michael Yerkey and Micah Kindel putting up 41 and 38 yards, respectively.

The Falcon Knights (10-1) now host a semifinal matchup next week against third-seed Redbank Valley (7-4), which beat Ridgway 51-19 Friday.

“They’re obviously starting to hit on all cylinders right now, so we’re going to have to be up to our best game and we can’t do a lot of stuff we did tonight to be able to be competitive with them,” Reed said.

Union/A-C Valley quarterback Andrew Kifer (9) throws through the hands of Cameron County's Julius Borden (17) in a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal football game against Cameron County, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Union High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

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“I think we’re feeling good moving on to next week,” Skibinski said. “We’re confident.”

Gallagher was one of three UAC players to record an interception in another impressive defensive showing. The Falcon Knights allowed just one offensive touchdown, and it came on a drive that started on their own half of the field.

Skibinski had the game’s first three scores on plays of 79, 4 and 93 yards to open up a 21-0 lead at the start of the second quarter.

The No. 7 Red Raiders (6-5), staring down a quick end to their postseason, punched back with a scoring drive that resulted in a 15-point deficit with 3:42 remaining in the half.

The Falcon Knights then ripped off 54 yards on just three plays of their ensuing possession, but the Red Raiders’ Kamden Fragale returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown.

The Falcon Knights saw their advantage fall to nine closing in on halftime.

“They had that interception return for a touchdown and just a lot of penalties and stuff you got to clean up,” Reed said. “You’re not going to beat these teams that are left in the tournament doing that kind of stuff.”

Following Skibinski’s early heroics, it was Gallagher’s time in the spotlight. U/ACV needed just two plays, including a 47-yard Gallagher ground score, to take a 16-point lead before the break.

Union/A-C Valley cleaned things up in the second half. There were less mistakes and just as many holes created by their offensive line for the backs to run through. The Falcon Knights put up 14 points in the third quarter as Gallagher finished with each of the last three touchdowns.

Union/A-C Valley running back Logan Skibinski (33) runs the ball in a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal football game against Cameron County Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Union High School.Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

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Cameron County 0 12 0 0 — 12

Union/A-C Valley 13 15 14 0 — 42

First Quarter

UACV — Logan Skibinski 79 pass from Andrew Kifer (Stephen Hepler kick)

UACV — Skibinski 4 run (bad snap)

Second Quarter

UACV — Skibinski 93 yd run (Trent Fleming, pass from Kifer)

CC — Taylon Tucker 9 pass from Kanden Fragale (pass failed)

CC — Fragale, 81 interception return (pass failed)

UACV — Gallagher 46 run (Hepler kick)

Third Quarter

UACV — Gallagher 44 run (Hepler kick)

UACV — Gallagher 1 run (Hepler kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Union/A-C Valley, Skibinski 9-190, Gallagher 11-130, Yerkey 4-41, Kindel 8-38, Parker Bish 2-34, Trent Fleming 1-21, Aidan Fox 1-14, Carson Crissman 1-14. Cameron County, Malakai Zucal 14-64, Fragale 15-8, Kenneth Miller 1-5, Rogan Pearson 1-8.

Passing: Union/A-C Valley, Kifer 4-11-121-1. Cameron County, Tucker 8-15-49-2, Fragale 1-2-9, Zucal 2-7-26-1.

Receiving: Union/A-C Valley, Skibinski 1-79, Bish 1-25, Gallagher 2-17. Cameron County, Fragale 2-16, Sylas Pearson 2-2, Michael Snyder 2-6, Boden Pearsall 3-35, Tucker 1-9, Zucal 1-17

Union/A-C Valley quarterback Andrew Kifer (9) throws a pass in a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal football game against Cameron County, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Union High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

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Union/A-C Valley defensive back Connor Langdon (17) breaks up a pass to Cameron County's Sylus Pearson (6) in a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal football game against Cameron County, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Union High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

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Union/A-C Valley wide reciever Parker Bish (2) runs the ball downfield with Cameron County's Boden Pearsall (8) in hot pursuit during a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal football game against Cameron County, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Union High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

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