Union rides backup QB's breakout performance, game management and yoga to 21-20 win over 4A power Chiawana: 5 takeaways

VANCOUVER — What happens when both teams have ample motivation to exact revenge? In Union’s 21-20 win over No. 5 Chiawana on Friday night at McKenzie Stadium,

VANCOUVER — What happens when both teams have ample motivation to exact revenge?

In Union’s 21-20 win over No. 5 Chiawana on Friday night at McKenzie Stadium, backup QB Alex Gehrmann tossed two touchdowns — both to Jake Bowen — in his first start, and the Titans showed what a difference a week makes, seven days after being walloped by Eastlake to end the program’s 16-game win streak.

And Chiawana’s motivation came in the form of the opportunity to take it to the team that beat it handily on its home turf last season.

JP Zamora threw two touchdowns and two interceptions, both scores to wide receiver Dion Lee, who also had an interception for the Riverhawks. Chiawana running back Gabe Schilz had a 7-yard touchdown run, and Union’s Isaiah Jones had a highlight-worthy, beast-mode-esque 32-yard touchdown run early on in a game that came down to the final moments.

“This game was really huge, because it gets Eastlake out of our mind,” Union coach Rory Rosenbach said.

Here are five takeaways:

Union’s young receiving corps is beginning to establish itself

Gone is all-state selection and four-star recruit Darien Chase, as well as Jojo Siofele and Alex Vallejo — Union’s reliably strong receiving corps throughout its 4A state championship season. 

A new crop of receivers have stepped up, and on Friday night, helped further cement themselves as top targets. Jake Bowen, a quarterback-turned-receiver, had nearly 100 yards on touchdown catches alone. 

His hauls of 70 and 27 yards helped swing the game Union’s way.

“I’m really comfortable. Last couple years I played quarterback so I know the offense really well, it’s been a really easy adjustment to go to receiver. 

Added Gehrmann: “He’s very versatile. You can put him anywhere on the field and he can get the job done.”

Chiawana had chances to flash its prolific offense. They were (mostly) marred by turnovers

Chiawana delivered complete performances in its first three weeks, featuring a prolific offense helmed by quarterback JP Zamora and receivers Kobe Young, Dion Lee and before he suffered a season-ending Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear, Kobe Singleton. 

Friday night was a different story. And it came down to execution. 

Chiawana was stopped inside its own 10 yard line twice, the most consequential coming late in the third quarter on fourth and two on the Union four yard line, moments after Marvell Cooks responded to a Titan touchdown by taking the ensuing kickoff to the opposite 11.

Zamora’s also threw two interceptions. The final pick came with less than seven minutes left in the game, as Chiawana had the ball inside Union territory down one point. Union DB Aiden Hoyt had the interception.

Union was “exactly what we planned for,” Zamora said. “I just had a couple bad reads. We’re going to bounce back next week, and we’ll see them in the playoffs.”

But in the grand scheme of things, a road loss at defending state champion Union is one the Riverhawks can wear.

“We need to just come back next week better,” Dion Lee said.

Backup QB Alex Gehrmann delivers show-stopping first start

Gehrmann has played at least one series per game this season for Union because of how much Rosenbach values his backup quarterback’s skillset. 

Don’t be surprised if the Titans start to play him much, much more. 

Many of Gehrmann’s passes sailed over the heads of his receivers on the first few drives, but once the jitters were gone, he excelled. Union tooled its offense around him, offering a limited serving of the Titans’ normal offense (“The play menu was small, it’s what he knows,” Rosenbach said.). But that was plenty enough for Gehrmann to thrive. 

Outside of his two touchdown passes, the cadence of Union’s offense felt natural under Gehrmann.

“He rose to the occasion,” Rosenbach said. “It just makes that quarterback room that much better, competition’s what we want. I’m pretty proud of him tonight.”

Gehrmann was 4A state player of the year Lincoln Victor’s backup last year. With three years in the offense, he said he had been waiting for an opportunity like Friday night, when the team needed someone to step up in place of day one starter Caleb Jordan, who was out on concussion protocol from a hit during the team’s loss to Eastlake.

“I was feeling a little dangerous, I knew I could get the job done,” Gehrmann said.

Chiawana’s run game should have been more of a problem

Early on, it appeared Chiawana running back Gabe Schilz was headed for another big night on the ground. After rushing for 129 yards and four touchdowns in week three against Walla Walla, Schilz was facing a Union team down two defensive linemen to injuries. 

But after his seven-yard touchdown in the first quarter, Union seemed to keep the lid on Schilz’ big play potential. 

Rory Rosenach said they didn’t expect the Riverhawks to come out in as many two tight end sets. 

“That was different from what they had done. They bled us a little, but the guys did a good job .. late they couldn’t really run the ball on us, which is what you want. I’ll give it up in the first half, but I need a stop in the second half and our staff was really good at it.”

Union’s week of prep started with a mind-clearing method: Yoga

Union players described the late night bus ride home from a 31-8 loss to as long, a bit dreary, and according to one player, cold. 

“I forgot to bring blankets and (extra) clothes,” quarterback Alex Gehrmann said. 

But there was not much sleep to be had by the disappointed Titans, who had to be up at 9 a.m. the next morning for team yoga. Turns out, the yoga routine was just the thing the team needed to turn the page and set the stage before its week four home matchup with Chiawana.

“It kind of resets our bodies, resets our mind, gets us ready for the next week of practice,” junior Jake Bowen said.

After the win over Chiawana, the Titans won’t get a Saturday morning to sleep in. They’ll be reconvened at 9 a.m. for the team’s weekly ritual, this time as they look to a massive road game at Puyallup.