Union City led 20-12 in the 2nd half and looked poised for the upset. However, the Cardinals completely shut down the momentum of the Golden Tornadoes and outscored Union City 31-7 the rest of the way for a comfortable 43-27 win at War Memorial Stadium.
Union City struck first early in the first as Kaleb Craig scampered 35 yards into the endzone on a drive that consumed eight minutes to give the Golden Tornadoes a 7-0 lead.
The Cardinals would quickly respond as Jayden Stinson found Kade Neely for a 47 yard strike. The missed extra point conversion would leave Union City with a 7-6 lead with 2:22 left in the opening quarter. Mayfield would answer again on their next drive as Stinson found Brady Smith, this time from 6 yards out to make it 12-7 Cardinals with just over 7 minutes left in the first half.
Just 3 minutes later, Union City fought back once again. Wes Tilghman with a 14 yard touchdown reception, but a missed extra point made it 13-12 Union City. Union City would answer one more time in the first half and take a 20-12 halftime lead.
With a glimpse of what was to come for the Cardinals in the 2nd half, Mayfield needed only 23 seconds for their first score of the 2nd half as Kade Neely was the recipient of an 81 yard touchdown strike from Jayden Stinson, which tied the game up at 20.
While Union City would take the lead once more, Mayfield closed the game on the previously mentioned 31-7 run. Three unanswered touchdowns, one by the pass and two on the ground, would allow Mayfield the 43-27 win over Union City.
Graves County would jump out early and often in their season opening home matchup against Murray, trouncing the Tigers 41-21 in Mayfield Friday night.
Ryan Mathis would be the story early on for the Eagles. Mathis used his wheels to score the first touchdown of the season for the Eagles. The five yard scamper would give Graves County the 7-0 lead with 2:32 in the opening quarter.
However, on the next drive for Murray High, Mathis would show his value once again. But this time, it would be on the defensive side of the football as Mathis picked off a first down pass and set up shop for Graves County on Murray's 7-yard line. Mathis would cash in on offense, this time with his arm, as he found Browning for a 7-yard touchdown strike to make it 14-0 with 11:56 in the 2nd quarter.
Having two big plays on offense and only one on defense, Mathis decided to even up his personal scorecard for his second big play on the defensive side of the football, this time picking off another Murray pass and giving Graves County the ball on its own 15 yard line. Graves' drive would stall, but Mathis set the tone early.
After a Murray score, Graves responded quickly with a scoring drive of their own as Tavis Brown scored the first rushing touchdown of the season for the Eagles. the 17-yard run would give the Eagles a 21-7 lead.
Tavis Brown wasn't finished. Brown struck on the defensive side of the football with what would be the biggest blow for Murray. Brown picked off a Tigers pass and took it 56 yards for the touchdown as time expired in the first half. The pick-six gave Graves County the 27-7 lead.
Graves County continued its methodical play in the second half to cruise for the victory. Graves County hosts Caldwell County next week at Eagles Stadium in Mayfield.
Friday Night's Scores
Trigg County 34, Monroe County 20
Christian County 11, Caldwell County 6
South Warren 49, Hopkinsville 17
Ballard Memorial 50, South Fulton, TN 12
Crittenden County 42, Stewart County, TN 6
Fulton County 44, Gleason, TN 0
Graves County 41, Murray 21
Greenfield, TN 1, Fulton City 0 (Forfeit)
Hopkins County Central 20, Webster County 12
Marshall County 34, Fort Campbell 12
Mayfield 43, Union City, TN 27
Owensboro 41, Madisonville 13
