First, the Good News – it didn't rain too much (just a few drops). Now the Bad News – Manti, one of top 3A teams in the state, rained all over Union High School for a 47-6 triumph in Roosevelt on Friday night. Manti jumped out to a 19-0 lead and led 19-6 at the half.

The Cats will battle Juab on Friday plus Uintah (Sept. 10) and Emery (Sept. 17) on the road.

Union started the game by sacking Manti quarterback Brady Aste at the Templar 19-yard line. A running play by Weston Crozier placed the Cats at mid-field, and Union called time out to decide whether to go for first down on a fourth down play. The Cats elected to punt the ball away.

The Cats regained the ball on a fumble by Manti at the Union 46, but Mike Dye (shared the quarterback spot with Braxten Nielsen) was unable to connect on passes and once again punter Colin Crozier put his foot to work.

Manti recovered a Union fumble at the Cats' 46 and then a personal foul on the Cats moved Manti deep into Union territory. Jansen Howe made a catch while on his back in the end zone of a 26-yard pass by Aste for the first touchdown of the game with 2:44 left in the first quarter. The extra-point kick was good for a 7-0 Manti edge.

The Templars weren't done as they blocked a Union punt and pounced on the ball at the Cat seven-yard line. Jeremy Palmer went the rest of the way for a touchdown in an eight-yard run up the middle. Manti fumbled away the snap on the extra-point kick with 6.1 seconds left in the first quarter for a 13-0 lead.

Manti continued to “Rain-On-Union's Parade” with Allen Fowles galloping 53 yards to the Union 8-yard line. Fowles ran eight yards up the middle for Manti's third touchdown with 9:24 left into the second quarter for a 19-0 advantage. Manti missed the extra-point kick attempt.

Union got its offense into gear with passes by Dye to Colton Jacobson and Nielsen that moved the Cats down the field. Dye was on target once again when he hit Mitch Hall at the Manti 12-yard line. Anthony Small made a run to the five-yard line and Nielsen darted to the one.

Small scooted into the end zone on a one-yard dash up the middle for a Union TD with 4:25 left in the first half. Union's pass for two was no good with Manti up 19-6.

The Cats' Nielsen turned in a “circus catch” that put Union at the Manti 12 late in the first half. Hall bagged a 10-yard pass in the end zone for a touchdown, but the score was wiped out on an encroachment defensive penalty. Union was unable to get back into the end zone and gave Manti the ball at the Manti 17.

Manti continued to dominate the game with four more touchdowns in the second half to beat the Cats by 41 points.