Union beats Decorah for 3A title, 21-14 (live)

CEDAR FALLS - LaPorte City Union's football season ended the way it began: by beating Decorah.

Quarterback Jay Scheel connected with tight end Brad Gallup for a 36-yard touchdown pass with 6:12 left to give Union a 21-14 win in the Class 3A state championship football game. Scheel ran in for the two-point conversion for the seven-point spread.

Defensive back Brenden Kuhn intercepted an overthrown Blake Moen pass at about the Knights 20 in the dying seconds to end it and give Union its first state football title. Union won its season opener over Decorah way back in August, 20-17.

On the winning TD, Scheel faked a handoff to running back Wes Burnside, with all the action going right. The sophomore then rolled slightly left, hitting a wide-open Gallup at about the 5-yard line. Scheel rolled right and ran into the end zone for the two-point conversion.

Running back Josey Jewell capped off a drive to start the second half with a 10-yard touchdown that put Decorah on top for the first time, 14-13, after Josh Lee's extra point.

Union (12-2) had a 13-7 halftime lead. Brady Peterson stroked a 21-yard field goal on the Knights' first possession of the game. Wes Burnside bounced outside and down the sideline for a 33-yard touchdown run to give Union a 10-0 lead in the final seconds of the first quarter.

Decorah (11-3) regrouped in the second quarter, with Jewell scoring from 7 yards out to make it 10-7. Peterson hit a 36-yard field goal as the clock ran out on the first half to make it a 13-7 game.

Union outgained Decorah by a 182-106 margin in the first half, with Burnside rushing for 86 yards on 15 carries.

This is the first time in a championship game for Union. Decorah is in the finals for the eighth time. The last of its previous four titles came in 1987.