East Union Football

Lott comes back to 2A to lead urchins

FAST FACTS

Division: 1-4A 2019 record: 9-3, 4-0 (Playoffs: lost in second round)

PLA YER S TO WAT CH

Colton Plunk, RB/DB (Senior) - Had 1550 Yards Rushing and 20 Rushing TDs also had 555 Yards Receiving with 9 Receiving TDs.

Hayden Roberts, WR/DB (Junior) - Multi-talented athlete who had 891 yards receiving and 10 TDs plus 6 interceptions for 163 YDs, 2 TDs.

Josh Duley, Lineman (Junior) - Graded out at 92% for the year and has given up two sacks in two years while averaging one pancake block per game for two years.

OFFEN SE

First year Coach Todd Lott comes to East Union after serving the past two seasons as AD/defensive assistant coach. He inherits an Urchin offense that returns seven starters.

“First of all, I am very blessed to be working with a great group of coaches,” Lott said. “Stephen Basil, Brandon Cherry, Scott Duley, and Chris Lucius have been amazing in helping transition from the past to a new head coach. Not only are they great coaches, but they are great men and role models for our players.”

The key to the East Union offense will be senior running back Colton Plunk who proved to be a hard man to bring down in the 2020 campaign. He should get even more carries this season as the Urchins may lean more toward the ground game after two seasons of “airing it out” on offense.

Lott will look to Rett Johnson to handle the quarterback chores. Johnson is a multi-sport athlete that starred in baseball and basketball for the Urchins, but this is his first season under center for East Union.

Hayden Roberts offers a big play receiver for Johnson to direct his passes to while Micah Fulgham (Sr.) can run and catch as he lines up in multiple positions.

Josh Duley will lead the Urchins in trenches and open holes for Plunk to navigate through.

DEFEN SE

Lott plans to go with a 3-3-5 scheme defensively with East Union and has seven starters back on that side of the ball for 2020.

Leading the Urchin defense will be linebackers Connor Timms (So.) and Gage Fellows (Jr.). Roberts and Fulgham will work the safety positions for East Union.

SPE CIAL TEAM S

Edgar Zapata (Sr.) returns as the kicker for the Urchins. He connected on 33 extra points for East Union in 2019. Roberts will serve as the punter after averaging 35.1 yards per punt last season.

Collin Stephens (Jr.) will handle the long snapping duties for the Urchins on kicks and punts.

Return men for East Union will be Plunk and Fulgham on kickoffs while Roberts will be returning punts.

X FACTOR

“There are many different variables that determine whether or not a team is successful,” Lott said. “Obviously, we have to stay healthy and avoid losing players to injury. Another major factor that determines success is Team Chemistry. When players and coaches are united and focused on a common mission week in and week out, teams have a chance to be special.

“Football is a tough sport and things get hard sometimes, therefore, we have to be there for each other. How we respond to the good and the bad will determine a lot about our

Head Coach Todd Lott (First season at East Union)

Ass istant Coaches: Stephen Basil, Brandon Cherry, Scott Duley, Chris Lucius and Brian Browning

Athletic Trainer: Jeremey Dorrough

season. Every week, especially during these unprecedented times, creates new challenges and new variables that we will have to deal with. The teams that are able to stay together and stay focused will have a huge advantage during the season.”

SCHE DULE ANAL YSIS

East Union’s September schedule of non-division games features home dates with Ashland and Hatley while the Urchins go on the road to face Tishomingo County and East Webster. The Urchins have won back-to-back titles in Division 1-2A and hope for the trifecta in 2020. Home games will be with Walnut and Strayhorn while the Urchins travel to Mantachie and Potts Camp.

COA CH SPEA K

“We are really pleased about the progress our team has made this summer; we have had great attendance and players have worked extremely hard. Our focus is on getting better each day and each rep; we feel like that’s about the only thing we truly have control over.” - Todd Lott.