PLAINFIELD – All Union wanted to do was to win the game and leave Hub Stine Field healthy.
Mission accomplished.
Although the Farmers performed poorly at times in the first half – committing 10 penalties, including five on one possession alone in the second quarter, Union did what it needed to do.
That was to score five times, prevent host Plainfield from reaching the end zone and getting to 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
Union senior quarterback Justin Beckett rushed for two scores and passed for one to Nasir Wooten and Andy Martin – in the first half – and Jeron Whitfield – in the second – also rushed for scores of more than 30 yards as Union rolled to an expected 35-0 triumph over Plainfield Saturday in Mid-State 38-Conference-Watchung Division play.
Union improved to 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Watchung Division, while Plainfield fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the Watchung Division.
“We were very sloppy in the first half, but our goal was to get to 2-0 and that doesn’t feel bad at all,” said Lou Grasso, Jr., who has Union at 2-0 for the first time during his four-season tenure as the head coach at Union.
The Union County squads did not face each other in 2014 and 2015. Plainfield, which last had a winning season in 2005, has not beaten Union since 2010.
The Farmers dominated defensively, never allowing Plainfield to get into Union territory. The furthest the Cardinals drove the ball was to their own 48-yard line in the first half.
Plainfield was also limited to just two first downs, one in the first quarter and another in the second.
“Our goal every week is to go 1-0,” said Union senior two-way lineman Mike Tverdov. “We now shift our attention to Elizabeth.”
Union will host Elizabeth Friday night at 7 at Cooke Memorial Field. The Minutemen will be coming off their first win of the season, a 27-8 Watchung Division triumph Friday night at home over Watchung Hills.
Elizabeth is 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the Watchung Division. The Minutemen opened with a 27-0 home loss to Delaware Division squad Hillsborough.
Plainfield will host Hillsborough next Saturday. Hillsborough lost at home to Bridgewater-Raritan 30-0 Friday night and is 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Delaware Division.
MID-STATE 38 CONFERENCE-WATCHUNG DIVISION
Union (2-0, 2-0) 7 14 14 0 – 35
Plainfield (0-2, 0-1) 0 0 0 0 – 0
FIRST QUARTER:
UNION – Andy Martin 33 run, Mike Matullo kick (U 7-0)
1 play, 33 yards, :12 used
SECOND QUARTER:
UNION – Justin Beckett 23 run, Mike Matullo kick (U 14-0)
6 plays, 70 yards, 3:17 used
UNION – Nasir Wooten 10 pass from Justin Beckett, Mike Matullo kick
(U 21-0)
6 plays, 42 yards, 2:43 used
THIRD QUARTER:
UNION – Jeron Whitfield 43 run, Mike Matullo kick (U 28-0)
2 plays, 57 yards, :49 used
UNION – Justin Beckett 6 run, Mike Matullo kick (U 35-0)
7 plays, 36 yards, 3:46 used
