Union County’s freshman football team lost 30-8 vs. Spartanburg Thursday night at Union County High School's track field.

The Jackets only score came on the second half’s second and final drive.

Quarterback Matthew Barnett started the drive with a seven-yard run before the Vikings’ late hit penalty pushed the ball past midfield. From the Vikings’ 44-yard line, Barnett connected with wide receiver Jordan Spencer for a 44-yard touchdown pass. The Jackets converted on a run play to earn two points after the touchdown.

The Jackets fought hard until the end and actually looked best at the game’s end.

Offensively and defensively, the Jackets did not give up and fought hard until the game’s final second.

Union County’s ninth-grade team is not scheduled to play next Thursday.

JV action

Spartanburg’s JV team committed eight penalties for 41 yards but had enough offensive production for a 14-0 victory vs. Union County Thursday night.

Spartanburg scored on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead at halftime. Spartanburg’s quarterback scored both touchdowns on a 32-yard scramble and a one-yard quarterback sneak.

Union County’s special teams was productive and gave the offense great field position. The special teams had three returns for 20 or more yards and 102 total return yards.

Amos Miller had returns of 39 and eight yards. Avion Carter added a 35-yard return in the third quarter.

Offensively, the Jackets looked rusty early on but put together its best possession on the game’s final drive. Carter led Union County’s drive with two catches for 39 yards and made a leaping 17-yard catch on third down to extend the drive.

Quarterback Dakota Ivester was 3-for-6 passing and led the team with ten carries for 34 yards.

Although, the score does not show it, the Jackets looked good in key areas.

Captain and linebacker Jarrod Fowler played the run aggressively and stopped the Vikings’ first two-point conversion attempt.

Ivester possesses what many quarterbacks do not. He looks to run the ball when the pocket breaks, and lowers his head to deliver the blow. He had a nice run in the final drive when he broke the plane, tucked the ball and looked for defenders to punish for the extra yards.

The Jackets got better as the game went on and coach Caleb Clark told his players JV football is all about getting better, day in and day out.

“JV is all about improving. Our second half tonight was better than the first. And, next week we want the first half at Broome to be better than tonight’s second half,” Clark told players after the game.

The JV team travels to play Broome Thursday at 6 p.m.