Two catches. Two impact plays. It’s what Union’s Mitch Saylor does. And there was little the Capital Cougars could do to stop the speedy 6-foot-6 wide receiver on those plays.

Saylor caught only two passes, one for a 44-yard touchdown and another for a 40-yard gain that set up another touchdown.

But those catches and a hard-hitting defense were the difference in Union’s 30-12 victory in Vancouver on Friday night, ending the Cougars’ season in the first round the state playoffs.

“Those two catches were big,” Capital coach J.D. Johnson said. “We dropped some passes and missed some tackles. You can’t do that against a good team like that.”

Union, which reached the state championship game last season, improved to 10-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals. Capital, which lost 26 seniors off last year’s team that reached the semifinals, finished 7-4.

Down 16-0 midway through the second quarter, Capital’s Roman Vern returned a kickoff 95 yards, giving the Cougars hope. Vern broke a tackle, picked up several blocks and raced untouched for the score. It was the first time in the game Union kicker Jed Barnett’s kickoff didn’t reach the end zone.

Capital trailed 16-6 at halftime.

But Union’s Nate Newman returned the kickoff to the open the second half 58 yards to the Cougars’ 12. Five plays later, Blake Russell scored on a 1-yard run for a 23-6 lead.

Saylor put Union on the board first, catching a bullet pass at the line of scrimmage, juking one defender and racing 44 yards untouched for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 3:51 left in the first quarter.

“The key to that pass is to get it out there fast,” Saylor said. “Then you’re just one-on-one.

Union quarterback Brandon Weller completed only 3 of 7 passes for 103 yards with two interceptions. He attempted just two passes in the second half as the Titans kept the ball on the ground.

Capital’s Tyler Sundberg , who set a single-season record for rushing touchdowns with 31, gained 123 yards on 27 carries to lead the Cougars. But Union kept Sundberg out of the end zone.

2B playoffs

At Tacoma Baptist 42, Naselle 8: The Crusaders exploded for 28 points in the second half, turning a competitive game into a blowout. Tacoma Baptist jumped to a 14-0 lead as Michael Springs had a pair of touchdown runs.

Naselle answered with its only score to cut the lead to 14-8 at halftime. But in the second half, the Crusaders rolled. Chris Gladney, Springs and Sam Spiro each found the end zone on touchdown runs, and Gladney returned a fumble 68 yards for another score.

Tacoma Baptist (11-0) will face the winner of today’s Concrete-Willapa Valley game.

4A playoffs

At No. 1 Bothell 57, Rogers 14: The top team in Class 4A showed no signs of slowing down, rolling to a 21-0 lead and never looking back, overpowering the Rams at Pop Keeney Stadium.

Bothell quarterback Mitch Muller threw six touchdown passes. Rogers got a 10-yard touchdown pass from Dalton Gervais to Donovin Goode and a 1-yard TD run from Dalton Mendenhall.

At Skyview 40, Bethel 21: Matt Spears rushed for 167 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries to lead the Storm to the upset over the seventh-ranked Braves at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver. Bethel was able to move the football but couldn’t stop Skyview.

Bethel’s do-everything back Anthony Meray did his part, running for a touchdown and catching a scoring pass. He finished with 125 yards rushing on 21 carries and caught five passes for 77 yards.