Union City

[Purple & Gold Standard]

Now that the 2011 1A season is officially over, let's look at next season...First though, I'd like to extend my congratulations to Wayne County on their first football state championship in their first attempt...Great job by Coach Ricky Rice and his young men...

 

Back to the Tornadoes...Union City is now two years removed from winning that big Gold Ball themselves...Here we stand though, two years later, with a combined 11-13 record...Youth, injuries, defections and small senior classes are all big contributors to this record...This team hasn't been void of talent though...The Tornadoes do have some really good, albeit young, talent...This season saw a good number of freshmen forced into action due to some untimely injuries and some defections...The 2012 team will enter off-season work-outs losing only four seniors (Benjamin White, Devin Burnside, Terrance Fitts and All-14A Michael Dysart, who was named Best Offensive Lineman in 14A)...On the other hand, the Tornadoes return All-Everything Keylon Hyde...Hyde will bring his 3,056 yards and 31 touchdowns (2009 1255 & 14) (2010 1801 & 17) from the last two seasons into his senior season...Another 1000 yards in his next season will make him the only UC running-back in modern history to go over that mark three years in a row...UC's second leading rusher, Khiry Lewis, will also return...Lewis gained 891 yards on only 88 carries for 13 TDs giving the Purple and Gold it's own version of Thunder & Lightening...Travis Rutland, who was injured in the preseason and had to have surgery the week before the season opener, will return as the Tornado quarterback next Fall...Rutland passed for 424 yards in the Tornadoes almost run exclusively veer offense...Hyde and Lewis were also the leading scorers for the Tornadoes with 134 and 120 points respectfully. Union City's leading tackler on defense, Tymaine Strickland (76 tackles), also returns...The offensive line looks to be in good shape as well...Brett Gore, Joseph Shanks, Walt Wiliams, Walker Barnes and freshman Kane Taylor all return...The defense will return 8 starters...This area (defense), along with learning to not turn the ball over all the time will be paramount to whether or not this team gets back to prominence in 1A football again...

 

If nothing changes from this season, here will be the schedule for next season:

 

Sat. Aug 18th vs Obion Central (4A)

Fri. Aug 24th at Wayne County (Defending 1A Champs)

Fri. Aug 31st vs Halls

Fri. Sep 7th vs Huntingdon (Lost 1 game this season)

Fri. Sep 14th at Greenfield

Fri. Sep 21st at Dresden (Playing for 2A title Sat)

Fri. Sep 28th vs Peabody

Fri. Oct 5th at Lake County

Fri. Oct 19th vs South Fulton

Fri. Oct 26th at Humboldt

 

Here's to a great off-season and GO TORNADOES !!!...

[REGION6FAN]

Will have to say seen some potential when we played yal week 2 but a lot of inexperience. With a season under your belt will definantly be better as yal got through the season. Biggest ? I would have would be your defense as reading through posts on the T was one of yals concerns also. Watched the film of yal vs WC playoff game and still havnt figured out how yal lost that game but we talking about next year. Dont know what level other teams will be on next year but yal should be in pretty good shape, Best of luck and if dont meet you before then see you week 2 2012

[Purple & Gold Standard]

Will have to say seen some potential when we played yal week 2 but a lot of inexperience. With a season under your belt will definantly be better as yal got through the season. Biggest ? I would have would be your defense as reading through posts on the T was one of yals concerns also. Watched the film of yal vs WC playoff game and still havnt figured out how yal lost that game but we talking about next year. Dont know what level other teams will be on next year but yal should be in pretty good shape, Best of luck and if dont meet you before then see you week 2 2012

Our biggest two problems are defense (which includes tackling, scheme, etc...) and turnovers...In the last two years our defense has allowed 707 points ( ridiculous)...I don't know exactly what the turnover ratio is but i'd bet we are close -15/-18 the last two years...Our offense, albeit young, has produced save for the rash of TOs...We have scored 678 points good for 28.2 ppg...You should be able to win games scoring that much...Defense is not a strong suit of a Darren Bowling-coached team though...His defenses while at Obion Central were less than stellar...He has an 8 year body of work in this area, so if some UC fans are offended by that statement,go look it up...

[wingman10]

Tornadoes have a tough schedule, but they will be better

[Tornadopride]

Union City should be a much better team next year. They weren't that bad this year due to injuries as a key and some kids who quit from the year before that were two and three years starters. If what Union City had on the field this year holds together for next year, I predict we will either be playing a Jo Burns or Wayne Co. more than likely for a trip for another Gold or Silver ball and I may be wrong. We were just 6 inches away from the 4th round this year. West Carroll will be decent again. Huntingdon, Lake County loose just about everyone I think. Not worried about anyone else we play. The season is over, weight room work is the key now and hopefully a couple of other kids will come out that we missed this year. Union City should be a 8 - 2 ---- 10 - 0 team next year during regular season. Good luck to everyone and talk to ya next year....

[wardawg2038]

UCGRAD, UC will be improved but still will have to contend with the Falcons of Lake Co. LC did lose a couple of playmakers in Tyler, Bledsoe and Boyd but have a very strong junior class coming back to lead the team. That group starts with #3 Devon Jones who will be the best player in the District next year in my opinion. 6,3 190 lbs and already getting looks from alot of colleges. With a a good off-season workout program and showings at the combines he could be a D-1 signee. Had a breakout season this year where he was named the District's defensive MVP and had 130 yards rushing and 95 receiving in the 2nd round playoff game. Next,#9 QB Nick Price who threw for 1,568 yards this season returns for his 2nd year as a starter as well as #32 FB/LB Caylan Bargery. The Falcons return 4 of 5 offensive Linemen in #52 LT Justin Kimble, #55 LG Ben Turner, #50 RG Craig Lewis and #75 RT Chase Crittenden. The only loss was Anthony Crawford at Center. The Falcons played the playoff game without #50 Lewis due to a broken foot suffered during homecoming week. He was also the team's leading tackler on defense from his LB spot. He had 3 tackles in the key goalline stand vs. UC in the first meeting. At WR the Falcons return #4 Leland but the key addition will be Raheem Flowers who transferred home to LC from Dyer Co. last year and had to sit out. He will fill the shoes of Tyler and give LC that homerun threat at WR. Along with those 2 you have #7 Jason Mills. At RB the falcons return Bargery and Jones add to that sophomore #25 Paul Caldwell along with #27 Sr. Garrett Parrish and the falcons will have depth at the posistion as well. Hear Coach B is also excited about incoming Fr. running back Stephonski Wilkes. His brother played for Coach B from 2003-2006 and started all 4 years and was 3 time all-state OT. Defensively the Falcons must fill holes up front with the loss of 3 out of 4 Def. lineman but return #52 Kimble as the lone starter and sophomore #57 Anthony Strayhorn who played alot toward the end of the year. The return of #72 Greg Ross from ACL surgery will help up front in both the o/d line. LB position is strong point with return of both starters Bargery and Lewis. Turner and Caldwell provide excellent depth and may cause Coach B to shift to a 4-3 instead of 4-2 on defense. The secondary returns 2 year starters Devon Jones and John Leland but must replace Tyler, Boyd and Bledsoe. Mills started two games while Rafael was banged up so has experience and Parrish along with #1 Jemarri Crawford and Raheem Flowers will provide likely starters for other spots.Coach B expects strong leadership out of this Sr.group which will help as well. A wild card in the mix will be Zay Coleman who has decided to rejoin the team as well. Very athletic but has not played FB since 8th grade.With all that said, Lake Co. will be in the mix for the district title and first round bye in the playoffs again next year as well. Add to that a Fr. class of 24 and the future looks bright for Lake Co.

[Tornadopride]

Now that you have had your say about Lake County on a Union City thread....Dysart # 56 is basically all we will miss. We had three other seniors that made a difference...he stood out. The rest, is all coming back. We beat Lake Co in the playoffs when it counted and had you beat in the regular season game but wraped that gift up and gave to Lake Co. We will beat Lake Co.....for sure. I think we have a better coach...which was proven in the playoffs. Lake Co. always has skilled players but just one player is not a team. Union City will be LOADED with speed , strength and experienced players. All you saw during the Union City games ( 2 )...well, they are all coming back except #56 that was on the field. Union City put Khiry Lewis, Joseph Shanks, Tymaine Strickland, Jamie Pirtle, Travis Rutland Keontre Murrell on the team from a squad that finished the regular season 4-6 and in third place in the district standings before advancing to the quarterfinals of the Class 1A postseason and ending up with a 6-7 record. Another player will be a 2012 Mr. Football finalist in Hyde, which ran for 1,801 yards and 17 touchdowns — many of those behind Dysart in the Twisters’ veer-option offense — to help UC to a surprising third-round playoff run. Dysart will be replaced...don't worry.

 

We're not worried about Lake Co. and no one else is. Thanks for you input with your team and I know they will be good but Union City will come in picked #1 and should go lon g into the playoffs. Good luck.

Edited December 4, 2011 by UCGRAD

[Atlas]

UCGRAD, UC will be improved but still will have to contend with the Falcons of Lake Co. LC did lose a couple of playmakers in Tyler, Bledsoe and Boyd but have a very strong junior class coming back to lead the team. That group starts with #3 Devon Jones who will be the best player in the District next year in my opinion. 6,3 190 lbs and already getting looks from alot of colleges. With a a good off-season workout program and showings at the combines he could be a D-1 signee. Had a breakout season this year where he was named the District's defensive MVP and had 130 yards rushing and 95 receiving in the 2nd round playoff game. Next,#9 QB Nick Price who threw for 1,568 yards this season returns for his 2nd year as a starter as well as #32 FB/LB Caylan Bargery. The Falcons return 4 of 5 offensive Linemen in #52 LT Justin Kimble, #55 LG Ben Turner, #50 RG Craig Lewis and #75 RT Chase Crittenden. The only loss was Anthony Crawford at Center. The Falcons played the playoff game without #50 Lewis due to a broken foot suffered during homecoming week. He was also the team's leading tackler on defense from his LB spot. He had 3 tackles in the key goalline stand vs. UC in the first meeting. At WR the Falcons return #4 Leland but the key addition will be Raheem Flowers who transferred home to LC from Dyer Co. last year and had to sit out. He will fill the shoes of Tyler and give LC that homerun threat at WR. Along with those 2 you have #7 Jason Mills. At RB the falcons return Bargery and Jones add to that sophomore #25 Paul Caldwell along with #27 Sr. Garrett Parrish and the falcons will have depth at the posistion as well. Hear Coach B is also excited about incoming Fr. running back Stephonski Wilkes. His brother played for Coach B from 2003-2006 and started all 4 years and was 3 time all-state OT. Defensively the Falcons must fill holes up front with the loss of 3 out of 4 Def. lineman but return #52 Kimble as the lone starter and sophomore #57 Anthony Strayhorn who played alot toward the end of the year. The return of #72 Greg Ross from ACL surgery will help up front in both the o/d line. LB position is strong point with return of both starters Bargery and Lewis. Turner and Caldwell provide excellent depth and may cause Coach B to shift to a 4-3 instead of 4-2 on defense. The secondary returns 2 year starters Devon Jones and John Leland but must replace Tyler, Boyd and Bledsoe. Mills started two games while Rafael was banged up so has experience and Parrish along with #1 Jemarri Crawford and Raheem Flowers will provide likely starters for other spots.Coach B expects strong leadership out of this Sr.group which will help as well. A wild card in the mix will be Zay Coleman who has decided to rejoin the team as well. Very athletic but has not played FB since 8th grade.With all that said, Lake Co. will be in the mix for the district title and first round bye in the playoffs again next year as well. Add to that a Fr. class of 24 and the future looks bright for Lake Co.

You sound pretty high on your past few middle school teams and their talent now reaching the high school level. Just remember our middle school teams and our talent handled ya'll pretty easily the past few years. Guess what? Our middle school players that beat ya'll past few years are now in high school as well, just like yours.

Edited December 4, 2011 by Atlas

[wardawg2038]

UCGrad. If you gift wrapped the first one then LC handed you the second game losing a 21-0 lead. The interception return for a Td and kick return for a TD, when back up kicker was in b/c Jones was cramping were the biggest difference in the game. 14 gift wrapped points there. Anyway no need to rehas that game it is what it is. Bowling is a great coach, has gold ball to prove it, but is 1-2 vs. Barger since he has returned to LC. Guess he spent all his majic beating LC since they could not get by an average West Carroll team the next week. Only reason I replied about LC on your thread was because you brought them up in stating that you thought they lost everything. Just thought I'd let the UC faithful know the Falcons are not going anywhere any time soon. Finished ahead of UC in the district the last 2 years and don't think they plan on giving up the spot without a fight. Good luck to the tornadoes as well, Except in week 7 that is. Should be interesting to see how things shake out

Edited December 4, 2011 by wardawg2038

[Purple & Gold Standard]

Defense boys and girls...Who ever figures out how to play defense over the summer will be the 1A team with a bye out of our district...Neither team has proven they can stop the other over the years...

[wardawg2038]

P&G I will have to respectfully agree with you on that one!

Edited December 4, 2011 by wardawg2038

[Purple & Gold Standard]

Probably too early to know but when does Spring Practice start ???...Feb or May ???...