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Union blasts Memorial
October 7, 2007
Union running back Jeremy Smith scored two touchdowns Thursday during the Redskins’ win over Memorial. Photos by Mike Simons/Tulsa World
by: DUANE DAPRON Tulsa World Correspondent
(Reprinted with Permission. This is not an endorsement.)
QB Rogers passes for 192 yards and three TDs.
Any thoughts that top-ranked Union might overlook unranked Memorial in its District 6A-3 matchup Thursday night didn't last long.
The Redskins roared to a 35-0 lead by halftime and the Union defense permitted just five first downs en route to a 49-0 shutout against the host Chargers at LaFortune Stadium.
Quarterback Brandon Rogers rushed for one touchdown and threw for three more while tailback Jeremy Smith added a pair of rushing touchdowns to pace Union (6-0, 3-0).
The Redskins struck early -- scoring on their first offensive possession -- and often in the first half against the Chargers (1-5, 0-3), which pleased head coach Kirk Fridrich.
"I thought that the last couple of weeks we had struggled early," Fridrich said. "For us, this game was an opportunity for our players and coaches to be focused and ready to play. Early in games we hadn't been as sharp as we could be. For us, it's about execution."
On their first offensive possession, it took the Redskins just 1:56 to travel 63 yards in seven plays with Smith covering the final 4 yards for the first of his two TDs on the evening.
Smith, who rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries, added a second touchdown -- his 10th of the season -- in the final minute of the first half.
Rogers scored from 2 yards out late in the opening quarter before firing touchdown passes of 26 and 16 yards to wide receiver Anthony Foster.
The second TD pass to Foster was part of an 11-for-13 first-half performance for Rogers, who netted 151 of his 192 yards passing by halftime.
In the first half, the senior signalcaller completed passes to six different receivers.
"Brandon is doing a great job of distributing the ball to everyone," said Foster, who had three receptions for 51 yards.
"Our receivers have really been stepping it up since (wide receiver) Tracy Moore got hurt."
Besides Foster, Tyler Atkinson snared a game-high five catches for 51 yards while Thomas Roberson added two receptions for 11 yards. James Roberson also added an 18-yard touchdown reception from Rogers in the third quarter.
"Brandon is a great leader for our offense, but our receiving corps runs deep," Fridrich said. "Our depth at receiver helps us to execute our offense."
Meanwhile, the Redskin defense allowed just 102 total yards, including only 27 in the first half. Memorial managed just one first down in the opening two quarters.
The Chargers' best drive came in the fourth quarter when they moved to the Redskins 34-yard line. But a pair of tackles behind the line of scrimmage ended Memorial's possession.
Dante Wimberly rushed for 30 yards while collecting three catches for Memorial.
Sean Murphy logged four receptions for 26 yards, one-half of Memorial's total passing yardage in the game.
Union’s Brandon Rogers (left) tries to get away from Memorial defender Sean Murphy during Friday’s game.
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