East Union High coach Willie Herrera was aware of Vanden’s big-play ability.
“That team had home run hitters all over the field,” he said Friday following the 46-18 non-league loss at Dino Cunial Field.
Quarterback Corey Abrams completed 3 of his 6 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Jayden Blakely had a game-high 193 yards on seven carries while twice finding the end zone.
His battering backfield mate, Jordyn Bartley, also scored twice while picking 58 yards on 10 pops.
The Lancers (1-3) were coming off a tough loss to Bear Creek, which fought back from a late three-score deficit to prevail, 36-34.
Meanwhile, the Vikings (2-2) of the Monticello Empire League came ready to play following their 26-10 upset of Christian Brothers.
They dominated most of the game. The only exception came during a stretch early in the second quarter.
Vanden scored three times in the first quarter, extending the lead to 25-0 after Abrams hit Julius Shepherd in stride on a 47-yard bomb.
Melkhi Richardson found daylight, going all the way with the ensuing kickoff to get East Union on the scoreboard.
Anthony Anaya on defense twice stopped the Vikings for losses, giving the Lancers the ball back.
From there, quarterback JoJo Espinosa orchestrated a 68-yard drive — a pass-interference penalty also helped out — scoring from the 2 while trimming the deficit, 25-12.
Espinosa scored again in the second half. But by then, the game was out of reach.
He completed 7 of 11 passes for 66 yards, picking up 29 yards on the ground on 15 carries.
As for the Vikings, they twice took advantage of great field position early on.
A fake punt gone awry put the ball at the Lancers 38. From there, Bartley, who carried twice, picking up 15 yards earlier, scored on a 15-yard run to give his team a 6-0 lead.
Blakely followed that up with a 55-yard touchdown run, making it 12-0.
The Vikings upped the lead, 18-0, following Xavier Rios' punt return to the EU 11.
Blakely cashed in on that opportunity, scoring from 12 yards out just two plays later.
Vanden had two big second-half plays.
Blakely ripped off a 72-yard scoring run while Abrams followed that up with a 77-yard touchdown toss to Jackson Forbes.
East Union’s top ball carrier was Leo Bonilla, who 47 yards on 14 carries. Tealen Gaines had 36 yards on nine pops.

SCORING SUMMARY
Vanden     18  14  7  7 — 46
East Union 0   12  0  6 — 18

First Quarter
V — Jordyn Bartley 15 run (run failed), 6:30.
V — Jayden Blakely 55 run (pass failed), 3:38.
V — Blakely 12 run (pass failed), :55.6.

Second Quarter
V — Julius Shepherd 43 pass from Corey Abrams (Taylor Bruner kick), 10:09.
E — Melkhi Richardson 67 kickoff return (pass failed), 10:01.
E — Jojo Espinosa 2 run (pass failed), 2:43.
V — Bartley 7 run (Bruner kick), :23.8.

Third Quarter
V — Blakely 72 run (Bruner kick), 6:48.

Fourth Quarter
V — Jackson Forbes 77 pass from Abrams (Bruner kick), 10:30.
E — Espinosa 2 run (pass failed), 1:04.