Big plays — and another big game from senior running back Logan Smiley — helped Caldwell County knock off previously unbeaten Union County 24-13 Friday night in Princeton.
On Hall of Fame Night at Tiger Stadium, Smiley ran like a future inductee. For the second straight week, he totaled 174 yards on the ground, including a 33-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that helped Caldwell (3-2) thwart any comeback plans by the Braves.
Caldwell’s first big play came late in the opening stanza, with the Tigers facing third-and-16 at the Union 31. Quarterback Jack Stevens was under pressure as he neared the right sideline, but Logan Chambliss slipped behind the Union defense. Stevens found Chambliss near the goal line, and Chambliss took it across the goal line for the first score of the night.
Blake Vivrette’s extra-point kick made it 7-0 at the 1:37 mark of the first quarter.
Big play No. 2 came early in the second quarter, with Union facing third-and-25 from its own 15. A deep pass down the middle was picked off by Stevens, who returned it 47 yards to paydirt. That made it 14-0 with 10:32 left in the second period.
Union (4-1) was able to move the ball at times in the first half, but saw its best drives ended by turnovers.
A Max Kramer fumble recovery helped the Tigers tack on some more points just before halftime.
Another big play — a 41-yard connection from Stevens to Kramer — set up a 37-yard field goal by Vivrette on the final play of the half as Caldwell went to the locker room with a 17-0 advantage.
The Braves appeared to grab the momentum when their first drive of the second half covered 68 yards. Cannon Sheffer found Kristopher Hughes open over the middle on fourth-and-goal from the 8, with Hughes making a leaping grab in the end zone.
That cut the margin to 17-7 with still 7:43 left in the third quarter.
But Caldwell was able to set things down with its running game. chewing up chunks of yardage and time.
The Tigers missed a chance to add to their advantage when they fumbled the ball away at the Union 5 on one drive. However, Caldwell came back on its next possession to get a big play in the running game — Smiley taking it 33 yards to the end zone.
That stretched the margin to 24-7 with just 7:01 left in the contest.
Union got a big play of its own when Hughes scooped up a Caldwell fumble and returned it 35 yards to the end zone. That kept the Braves’ hopes alive momentarily at 24-13 following a missed extra-point kick. However, just 4:37 remained in the contest.
Union got the ball back just one more time but was unable to pick up a first down as Caldwell was able to run out the clock.
Caldwell held a slight advantage in yardage in the contest, 317-273. The Tigers had 14 first downs while the Braves had 11.
Caldwell totaled 211 yards on the ground while Union got 166 of its yards in the air.
The Tigers won despite turning the ball over four times. Union had three turnovers.
Jamus Carneyhan had nine tackles to lead Caldwell in that department. He also forced a fumble.
Landon Davis, Elijah Shaheen and Drew Davis each recorded eight tackles. Shaheen added 2.5 sacks.
Caldwell has now won its last 11 meetings with the Braves.
The Tigers enter Class 2A 1st District action next week when they visit Ballard Memorial. The Bombers are 0-5 after falling 49-0 at Hopkins County Central on Friday.
