Sonoraville Surges Past Union County in Second Half

Blairsville , Ga. — Union County kept things close early, but Sonoraville pulled away in the second half to hand the Panthers a 45-22 loss on Friday night.

The Smoky Mountain Conference matchup was tight through the first two quarters, with Union County trailing just 22-21 at halftime. But the Panthers couldn’t keep pace after the break as the Phoenix broke the game open with a dominant final two quarters.

Sonoraville running back Jayden Cruz powered the offense with a monster night on the ground, racking up 194 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 8.8 yards per carry — his best touchdown total since September. Quarterback Chaz Pate added balance through the air, throwing for 205 yards and two scores.

The loss marked another tough outing for Union County (2-7), which has dropped five of its last six games.

The Panthers will try to finish strong when they travel to North Cobb Christian on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The matchup could provide an opportunity for a rebound, as the Eagles’ defense has allowed more than 32 points per game this season.