Union/A-C Valley football’s special season ends in District 9 semifinals at hands of Redbank Valley
Dan Reed thought his Union/A-C Valley football team had a chance to do something special.
The No. 2 Falcon Knights fell just short of their own lofty expectations, losing Saturday’s District 9 Class 1A semifinal 35-21 to third-seed Redbank Valley at Brookville High School.
“There’s no doubt we thought this team had a good chance to do something,” U/ACV’s head coach said on the phone after arguably the best season in the co-op’s history ended with a 10-2 record.
“I expected we’d still be playing. I just know I’m sick to my stomach for these kids who worked so hard.”
The rematch of a regular-season game the Falcon Knights won by four points was close until the final minutes.
Redbank quarterback Braylon Wagner picked apart U/ACV with his arm and legs, particularly in the second half on broken plays, Reed said. He threw touchdown passes of 8, 7 and 1 yard in the fourth quarter, the latter across his body with 3:23 left to play to make it 28-21.
After Union/A-C Valley turned the ball over on downs on the next drive, Wagner iced the game with a 14-yard run to the end zone with 1:04 to play.
“I think the big difference this time around was the second half we didn’t get pressure on Braylon, and he made a lot plays,” Reed said.
Reed said the typically dynamic run game led by Logan Skibinski and Max Gallagher, both seniors, wasn’t as effective as usually.
Freshman quarterback Andrew Kifer hit Parker Bish for a 23-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter to make it 7-0 Union/A-C Valley. Skibinski plowed in from a yard out on fourth-and-goal to end a 16-play drive to open the second half, and Kifer threw a 68-yard TD to Aidan Fox to go up 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Kifer finished with 135 yards, two TDs and an interception on 8 of 16 passing. Skibinski ran for 92 yards on 20 carries, and Gallagher had 55 yards on 15 touches. Fox finished with two grabs for 80 yards.
The Bulldogs (8-4) will face top seed and defending PIAA champion Port Allegany (11-0), which routed No. 5 Keystone 53-23 Saturday, in next week’s district final at a site and time to be determined.
