Notebook: Former GP coach guides Union to first-ever state title

TACOMA — For the third time in his head-coaching career, Snohomish native and former Glacier Peak football coach Rory Rosenbach is a state champion.

Rosenbach guided the Union High School football team to the first state title in the program’s 12-year history with a 52-20 win over Lake Stevens in Saturday night’s Class 4A state championship game.

“I’m just so happy for this community,” the third-year Union coach said. “And these (players) worked so hard all year long. I’m just so happy for them that they can experience it. It’s a pretty neat deal.”

Rosenbach, a 1994 Snohomish High School graduate, was the head coach at Glacier Peak for eight seasons before heading south to Vancouver to take the Union job in 2016.

Rosenbach also guided Marist Catholic of Eugene, Ore., to state titles in 2005 and 2007.

Siofele has big night for Union

Union has an arrary of offensive weapons, but none had a bigger night than Jojo Siofele.

The two-way senior standout totaled 292 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on just 15 offensive touches, and also intercepted a pass on defense.

It all amounted to quite a 50th birthday present for Siofele’s father.

“He is a ballplayer, man,” Rosenbach said. “He’s one of the best football players I have ever coached in 20 years. (I’m) super proud of him and super happy that he was able to do it for his dad on his dad’s 50th birthday.”

Siofele caught 10 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns, and added five carries for 113 yards and a score.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder caught touchdown passes of 23, 56 and 10 yards. On back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, he intercepted a pass in the end zone and burst free for an 80-yard touchdown run.

Kinchen, Chase square off

Lake Stevens’ Kasen Kinchen and Union’s Darien Chase, two highly touted recruits, found themselves matched up frequently throughout the game.

Chase, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior who recently signed with the University of Nebraska, finished with five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. All five of his catches came in the first half.

Kinchen, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound junior with an offer from the University of Oregon, caught nine passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Both players took turns making highlight-reel catches. Kinchen’s came on a deep ball up the middle of the field that he hauled in for 56 yards, while Chase made a great grab over Kinchen on the sideline while just getting his foot inbounds.