Orange City Iowa —Unity Christian defended the home field Friday night with a 29-16 win over Sheldon.
Unity scored first on an 80 yard drive as quarterback Clayton Bosma hit the end zone on a 26 yard keeper. Sam Eppinga added the extra point and the Knights were in front 7-0 with 8:33 left in the first quarter.
Sheldon would answer and take the lead with an 80 yard drive of their own. Tyrel Lindeman capped the drive with a 2 yard run off the jet sweep. Kaleb Ackerman ran for the extra point and Sheldon had the lead 8-7 with 3:08 left in the half.
Unity blocked an Orab punt with time winding douwn in the half. The Orabs averted a touchdown by swatting the ball out of bounds at their own 3 yard line. The Knights converted the opportunity with a Tanner Schouten 2 yard run. Eppinga added the point and Unity led 14-8 with just :42 seconds left in the half.
In the third quarter the Knights got a stop on downs at their own 18 and went 82 yards the other way for the score. A 46 yard pass from Bosma to Carter De Jong got them in the end zone. Following a Sheldon penalty Unity went for the 2-point conversion and got it as Bosma found De Jong for the 2-point play that put the Knights up 22-8 with 1:35 to go in the third quarter.
The two teams traded scores in the fourth quarter. Unity was first picking off an Orab pass at the Sheldon 48 yard line. Bosma hit Jacob De Jong for an 11 yard score and Eppinga’s extra point put the Knights up 28-8 with 2:18 left to play.
Sheldon finished the scoring on the 80 yard drive with a 21 yard pass play from Ackerman to Lindeman. Ackerman went in for the 2-point conversion with :15 seconds left to make the final 29-16.
WIth the win Unity improves to 4-2 on the year and 2-2 in the district. Sheldon is 1-5 on the season and 0-4 in the district. The regular season comes to an end next Friday with Sheldon back in Orange City to go against MOC Floyd Valley. Unity will be at Sioux Center.
