Linden Stuns Union 25-21 With Final Play Touchdown on Senior Night

According to Linden Public Schools' announcement.

Union was seven seconds away from a win on Friday night, Oct. 23. Linden used those seconds to score on the final play and beat Union 25-21 in a wild comeback.

The Linden Tigers, coached by Mark Ciccotelli, won before a packed Senior Night crowd. At halftime, the team honored seniors from its football team, marching band and cheerleading squad.

The night did not start well for the Tigers. Union led 21-7 at the break. After halftime, Linden scored 18 unanswered points, and its defense did not allow another point.

The winning score came on a lateral play as time expired. It was credited as a touchdown reception of 36 yards by a receiver from the quarterback, and it wiped out Union's 21-19 lead. Cheers rose from the stands, where family, friends and students had gathered on a chilly autumn night.

The quarterback carried much of the load. He ran for 236 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries. He also completed seven of 15 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions.

He opened Linden's scoring with a touchdown run of 2 yards, and the kicker added the extra point. His touchdown run of 1 yard in the third quarter cut Union's lead to 21-13. Another score from the same distance in the fourth quarter brought Linden within two, but both conversion attempts failed.

That left the defense to keep the game within reach. One defender made 13 tackles, including one for a loss, and forced a fumble. Another added 10 tackles, two for losses. The receiver who scored the final touchdown finished with two catches for 44 yards.

The district's post did not include comments from the coach or players. It also did not list Linden's next game, any playoff information or a contact for the team.

The win evened Linden's record at 4-4, while Union fell to 5-4. According to the district, Senior Night brought families, students and supporters together, and the final play gave that celebration an extraordinary finish.

Find more Linden events, businesses, and local news on Union County Life.

Source: Linden Public Schools

Photo: Steve Pancrate / Pexels