BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - On the road for the first time this season, the Warner University football team grinded out a 42-21 over Union College (Ky.) on Saturday afternoon.  The Royals scored 21 points in the first quarter and improved to 2-0 for the first time in school history.  The Bulldogs began their 2015 campaign on Saturday and open the year at 0-1.

The Royals could not have scripted a better start in their first road contest of the season.  Taking the opening kickoff, the Royals went 55 yards in seven plays culminating in a 15 yard touchdown pass from Darrin Davis to Roger Allen.  On the ensuing kickoff, the Bulldogs failed to get a handle on the loose ball and Warner's Anthony Cesar jumped on it at the Union 24 yard line.  Four plays later the Royals led 14-0 after Bryant Benton took the handoff and ran six yards to the end zone.

The Warner defense got the ball right back in just four plays when Tyrail Davis forced a Bulldogs fumble.  This time the Warner offense set up shop at the Union 39 yard line and took six plays to find the end zone.  Benton scored his second straight from six yards out and the Royals led 21-0 with 4:49 on the clock in the first quarter.  Saturday marked the second straight game the Royals scored 21 points in a quarter after doing so in the third quarter against Concordia College (Ala.) last week. 

The second quarter was not as high scoring as the first but did feature the Royals' fourth touchdown of the game, a 47 yard scamper by Benton, his third of the half.  The Royals' defense added two more turnovers to their tally in the first half as well.  Patrick Moreland had an interception in the end zone and Ed Wright forced then recovered a Bulldog fumble.  At the break, the Royals led 28-7.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the third quarter as the Royals' offense gained a total of 49 yards in three possessions.  Holding a 28-21 lead heading into the final 15 minutes, Davis led two drives of 82 and 72 yards capped off by touchdowns to seal the road victory.  Trey Schley caught the first, a three yard toss from Davis, and Tauran Wilson ran the second one in from four yards out.

Defensively, the Royals forced two more turnovers in the fourth quarter bringing their game total to five, their second straight week with at least five forced turnovers.  Larry Faison jumped on a loose ball and Anthony Cesar had an impressive one-hand interception to halt a marching Union offense.

The Royals' day ended with 414 yards of total offense on 59 plays.  Davis finished 11-of-18 for 197 yards and two touchdowns through the air.  On the ground the Royals churned out 217 yards on 41 carries.  Bryant Benton broke the 100-yard barrier for the first time this season with 107 yards on 18 carries.

Warner's Loronza Smith led the way with 10 tackles against the Bulldogs.  Larry Faison followed with nine stops including one for a loss of three yards.  Ed Wright totaled eight tackles in the win as well including one for an eleven yard loss.  James Swilley and Jamal Rivers collected three sacks on the afternoon.  Swilley had two for a loss of 14 yards while Rivers had one for a loss of three yards.

Next Saturday night, Sept. 12, the Royals welcome Southeastern University to Vikings Stadium at Lakeland Christian School for a 7 p.m. kick-off.  The game is expected to draw a large crowd and fans are encouraged to get their tickets early by visiting www.warnerroyals.com/tickets

Live video and stats will be available and those links will be released later in the week.



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