On Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7:00 PM, Union University held its fifth annual Buster Bowl at Liberty Tech High School. For the first time since 2021, both teams were from Union — the White Team and the Red Team— with the Red Team winning 44-0.
The past two years, Union has played against Freed-Hardeman University. This year, the organizers decided to restructure the Buster Bowl as a Union versus Union event.
The teams consisted of students and faculty from Union and were led by Ted Kluck, associate professor of communication arts, and Josh Krebs, who works as a counselor for the university. The two were the head coaches for the game, coaching the Red Team and the White Team, respectively.
“It’s a great night for the whole community. The whole Union community comes out to have fun. I want to do it this way every year,” Kluck said. “We had full stands, a great tailgate, and Union really supports it, so I am grateful.”
Prior to the game, the Sophomore Class Council held a tailgate as part of Union’s homecoming week. The tailgate featured tents from many different student organizations and local churches. Students, faculty and family crowded the event, playing games, enjoying free food and watching the players warm up on the field.
The game started off a bit rocky, with both teams combining for four turnovers within the first 14 minutes of the game. The Red Team was able to strike first after a high snap from the White Team which resulted in Manayeh Linton, running back, rushing the ball in for a touchdown.
This year was the first time Linton played in the Buster Bowl, and the senior business administration major was a standout performer for the Red Team, leading their dominant rushing attack.
“It was incredible. I loved being out there with my roommates and with Ted,” Linton said. “It was a pleasure to play for the first time.”
Linton scored a second time later in the game, this time after a 49 yard run where he broke through multiple tackles before finding the endzone.
“It was like a little fun backyard football,” Linton said.
The successful run game opened up Kluck’s offense, allowing them to find a rhythm, cruising to a 44-0 win over Kreb’s squad thanks to a committee of running backs and a defensive performance highlighted by a play early in the fourth quarter, where sophomore economics major Luke Dalton, linebacker, ripped a pass from the hands of the receiver, intercepting it.
“It makes it so much sweeter playing against your friends,” Dalton said. “Will was talking all week about how he was going to juke me, so it made the moment that much sweeter, having joked about it and knowing we will continue to laugh about it. It made the game more meaningful.”
Despite the unevenness of the score, players from both teams enjoyed the game.
“There was a lot of camaraderie out there,” Krebs said. “It didn’t feel like losing to another team, it felt like losing to your buddies.”
“Anytime you can play ball, it’s a blessing,” Kluck said. “I got to play with my son, and there’s nothing better than that.”
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