Photo by Kim North Union Local quarterback Isaiah Tomolonis (7) breaks free during Friday night’s action against Wheelersburg at Jets Stadium in Morristown. Looking on is Jets offensive lineman Mason Porter (78).

MORRISTOWN — Football can be a game of inches. Those inches can seem like miles at times.

Union Local, unfortunately, found that out the hard way Friday night as the No. 11 Jets (9-3) dropped a 28-23 decision to No. 14 Wheelersburg in an Ohio Division V, Region 19 contest on the natural grass surface at chilly Jets Stadium.

The hosts had a long touchdown pass nullified by an illegal forward pass on their second play of the game and then watched as a ‘Hail Mary’ pass was picked off in the end zone with 43 seconds remaining.

“I’m so proud of everyone in our program from our players to our coaches to our fans,” a dejected Union Local head coach Bernie Thompson said. “We hang our hats on blue-collar work … blue-collar mentality … and that’s going to carry over to life. That embodies this team. For our team to go toe-to-toe with that team, I’m beyond proud.”

Wheelersburg had dominated No. 3 Barnesville in a first-round encounter last week. A week earlier, the Shamrocks had their way with the Jets, so nobody gave the hosts a chance, with the exception of those wearing the Red.

“Football is a game of inches. Unfortunately, we were a couple of inches away,” Thompson noted.

On the second play from scrimmage, quarterback Isaiah Tomolonis handed off to running back Brody Perzanowski on a sweep right. However, Perzanowski pulled up and threw back across the field to Tomlonis who in turn fired a strike to a wide-open Dre Saunders for what appeared to be a 74-yard scoring play, but the officials ruled Perzanowski’s pass was a forward pass and not a lateral, thus negating the TD.

The Jets did take a 3-0 lead as Jeff Bolon nailed a 30-yard field goal on their next possession.

The Pirates (8-4) took the lead for good when quarterback Braylon Rucker found running back Ison Emnett along the right sidelines for a short gain. However, the 220-pounder broke loose, made a pair of cutbacks that made Jets miss tackles before lunging into the end zone to complete a 39-yard scoring play. Cooper Heimbach’s PAT made it 7-3.

Elijah Brown capped a 12-play, 78-yard drive with a 3-yard run over the left side of his line. Hemibach made it 14-3 with 3:24 left in the first half.

Wheelersburg grabbed a 21-3 margin after going 74 yards on just four plays on the first series of the third quarter. Kenyon Evans took a reverse 47 yards and Rucker kept around his left end for a 19-yard TD run. Heimbach was true again.

Saunders returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to the Pirates’ 12 and Perzanowski took an option pitch from Tomolonis 12 yards to paydirt on the very next play. Bolon’s PAT made it 21-10.

Union Local’s defense held and forced a punt. The Jets took over at their own 13. Perzanowski ripped off 27 on first down and a 15-yard personal foul penalty against the Pirates moved the ball onto their side of the 50 at the 38. Three carries by Perzanowski and a 5-yard facemask call against the visitors placed the ball at the 10. Tomolonis faked an option pitch right and kept for a 10-yard scoring run. The PAT failed, leaving the Jets on the short end of a 21-16 count with just under three minutes left in the third quarter.

Wheelersburg needed just four plays to find the end zone again. This time Rucker swept around his left end from 19 yards out and Heimbach made it 28-16.

Union Local scored again midway through the fourth quarter as Tomolonis and Saunders hooked up for a 61-yard pitch-and-catch. Bolon’s placement made it 28-23.

A missed 39-yard field goal by Heimbach with 63 ticks left gave the Jets one last gasp.

Saunders made a leaping grab between two defenders at the Pirates’ 38 and Tomolonis spiked the ball to stop the clock with 50 seconds remaining. His next pass was headed to a wide-open Sean Alkire the right side of the end zone, but Wheelersburg’s Xander Mowery made a leaping interception to seal the victory.

“It wasn’t long ago that we were 0-10,” Thompson recalled. “Now we’re in the second round of the playoffs and gave a very good Wheelersburg team all it wanted. This was a great week for our communities. It was a great week for our program. I’m already excited for next year.”

Perzanowski ran for 121 yards on 18 carries, while Tomolonis added 34 on 11 trips. He also completed 6 of 11 passes for 146 yards. Saunders had four receptions for 127 yards.

Wheelersburg piled up 300 yards on the ground on 45 attempts. Brown led the way with 131 on 25 carries. Rucker had 60 and Emnett 48.

The Pirates advanced to play No. 7 West Muskingum, a 33-7 upset winner of No. 2 Proctorville Fairland last night. That site will be determined by OHSAA officials on Sunday.