Offseason rugby title may have helped Union advance to football title game

Six starters started for rugby club

Mount Vernon’s Sam Moore (36) (background) and Mount Vernon’s Tyler Elliott (1) tackle Union’s Isaiah Vaughn (2) in the first quarter at the Class 2A State Semifinal game between Mount Vernon and Union, La Porte City at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette) ▲

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By K.J. Pilcher

CEDAR FALLS — Football players regularly participate in spring sports.

Many will compete in track, attempting to improve speed. Others may opt for soccer to help with footwork.

Two years ago, some Union football players began competing in rugby.

The rugby experience has played a small factor in the fourth-ranked Knights advancing to the Class 2A state championship against No. 2 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley on Friday at the UNI-Dome. Kickoff is slated for 2:06 p.m.

“It helps you with tackling. It’s really fun,” Union tight end and defensive end Jordan Schmitz said. “You bond with all those people in rugby and then you bond with them in football. It’s something words can’t describe.”

Union Coach Joe Hadachek played rugby for 10 seasons, beginning in college. Bill Reed, a college friend from their days at Northern Iowa and the Iowa Youth Rugby Association tournament director, suggested Union start a team. Even recommended DeAndre Moore, a UNI rugby member, to coach the Wolf Creek Knights Rugby Club.

“Any size kid can play,” Hadachek said. “We had wrestlers out. We had football players out. We had guys who weren’t out for any other sport. It’s really growing for us.”

Schmitz participated in track as a freshman and sophomore. Rugby became an option his junior year. Coaches encouraged it, but didn’t push it. He chose the new direction.

“I had only seen rugby,” Schmitz said. “It looked like an awesome sport. It was just an awesome experience.”

WFKRC had 18 players for Sevens (7-on-7) competition, winning the IAYRA Class 1A title. Six of the starters were also starters on the Union football team, which enters the title game with an 11-1 record.

Wrestling has freestyle and Greco-Roman in the offseason. Basketball has AAU outside of varsity competition. Rugby joins 7-on-7 passing leagues as a way to serve that role for football.

“There is nothing that simulates the whole game,” Hadachek said. “The tendency has been coaching changes in the fundamentals, keeping the head out of football and adopting rugby-style tackling.

“You have a chance to apply that in the spring. It’s like having spring football.”

Blocking is similar to the push in a rugby scrum and the rucks, a head-to-head position that requires drive and leverage to get an advantage. Plenty of skills transfer, playing a possible role in Isaiah Vaughan’s 397-yard semifinal performance and touchdown runs of 75, 67, 58 and 56 yards, or punt and interception returns for scores by Kody Alpers.

“The open-field tackling and open-field running is not a whole lot different,” Hadachek said. “Then, you incorporate the ability to pitch the ball.”

Rugby may have helped improve Vaughan’s ability that produced 1,914 rushing yards and 32 TDs this season. It also added a page to the Knights’ playbook. They could resort to one of those calls Friday.

“Honestly, we put in some plays we call rugby plays,” Hadachek said. “We’ve run one of them this year. We have a couple in the bag. We might have to take them out.”

The Knights were just 4-6 last season, losing in the opening round of the playoffs. Hadachek said the team was frustrated and the players were dedicated in the offseason, lifting, working out and playing other sports. The effort has paid dividends, reaching their potential and earning a shot at a championship.

“Our grade has always played great together,” said Vaughan, who was the MVP of the 1A state rugby tournament. “We just came in and worked hard in the offseason. Now, we’re here.”

They were battle tested through the regular season. Similar to their title run in 2011, the Knights avenged a regular-season loss in the quarterfinals. Union knocked off top-ranked North Fayette Valley and then topped No. 3 and 2015 runner-up Mount Vernon. Hadachek said Union’s district was tough as nails with many playoff-caliber teams.

“The tough schedule, playing North Fayette, Waukon, Dyersville Beckman and those schools,” Hadachek said, “They prepared us for this journey and the second half of the season in the playoffs.”

The Nighthawks (11-1) await. BH/RV has won 10 straight games and averages 43.6 points per game. The Nighthawks have a potent offense led by quarterback Brett Moser, who has thrown for 2,122 yards and 27 TDs, including 950 and 13 to Shane Solberg. Jacob Schafer has rushed for 1,151 and 14 TDs.

“It’s such an honor,” Schmitz said about playing in the final. “We’ve dreamed about this since we were little kids, like every football player. We’ve been a team since third grade. The journey has been absolutely amazing.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com