UNION CITY

from 2021 Union City (TN) Messenger Football Preview

by Kevin Weaks

WATCH LIST

GAGE SMITH 5-10 • 190 • HB/LB

KEATON BROWN 5-11 • 190 • QB/LB

HAYDEN KENNEDY 5-10 • 225 • OG/LB

JACOB ARNOLD 5-9 • 185 • RB/DB

KYRELL LITTLETON 5-9 • 150 • RB/LB

UNION CITY UNION CITY GOLDENGOLDEN TORNADOES TORNADOES

Hayden Moon is expected to be a big part of Union City’s plans on both sides of the line in 2021.

LEAVING THEIR MARK Twisters toughen up for playoff run

By KEVIN WEAKS Messenger Sports Editor

Nick Markle is not looking to put his stamp on the Union City High School football program. He wants his Golden Tornado teams to do that.

Markle begins his second season as the head coach this year, and he believes any such legacy within a program can be seen in the details.

“I want us as a unit and as a coaching staff to be on the same page,” he said. “I told the players the first day after I was hired that I’m not here for any personal glory. I’m here for their glory. I’m here for their success. I’m here to help them succeed on and off the field. I want them to know that I’m their football coach but I’m also a guy they can lean on, talk to and count on. I always want to be present for them, and some of our guys don’t have that in their lives.

“I think once you get young men to trust you as a football coach and know that you’re going to do right by them in every turn, they’ll run through fire for you. And, we’re slowly getting there.”

There are nuances that Markle — only the sixth head coach at UC since 1969 — has noticed in his second year that make him realize that he has, indeed, put a stamp on the program.

“I hear some of my little terminologies and some of my little sayings being repeated at practice,” he said. “As a head coach, you kind of sit back and say to yourself, ‘All right. They’re starting to get it. They’re starting to get what we’re teaching and preaching to them. They’re starting to understand and buy into it.’

“I just want them to play hard for each other, for this school and for this community. You have to be selfless, and we talk about that all the time. If you’re selfish, we’ll never win. If you’re selfless, we’ll win a lot of games. Trying to tell a 16-yearold kid not to be selfish is a tough task sometimes.”

Markle could see flashes of that last season as the Twisters finished 6-5 overall and lost in the second round of the playoffs — UC had a first-round bye due to numerous Memphis schools opting out of the season because of COVID-19.

Following a season-opening loss to University School of Jackson, the Tornadoes ran off four straight wins (three by seven points or less). Three straight losses followed as Union City allowed 49 points in each of those games, but the team broke the skid with a thrilling win over Ripley at home.

UC then closed the season with a blowout win over Halls, its only shutout of the season.

Two players, Wes Tilghman and Travon Westbrook, rushed for over 1,000 yards as the team’s run-oriented triple-option offense accounted for 320 yards and 23.8 points per game.

UC was actually outscored for the season, giving up 315 points while scoring 262, but outgained its opponents on average as the Twisters’ foes had 296.8 yards per game.

Being more consistent is the team’s goal for 2021.

“It’s something we’ve talked about,” Markle confirmed. “A lot of time last year, we’d get in the red zone (inside the 20-yard-line) but couldn’t get any points. I think that was an Achilles heel of ours. It boils down to a few different things — holding onto the football and being focused.

“A lot of times we’d get down there and somebody would jump, or we’d have two people in motion, or we’d have a lazy holding call. We’re not the kind of team that can afford negative plays. We have to be on the right side of the chains all night.”

So far, Markle has been pleased with his team’s effort and the progress the players have made each step through the preseason, including the three scrimmage sessions.

“We definitely have a little way to go before we get where we need to be, but it’s the same thing every year — we don’t want to peak in week one,” he said. “We want to continue to improve, and we should be peaking around the seventh, eighth, ninth game.

“What I’m excited about is our grit — flying to the football, blocking to the whistle; the effort. We’re getting these guys to give us all the effort they have.

“And so if we can continue to do that, we’ll put them in the right position to be successful.”

OFFENSE

The offensive line will have more responsibilities as Markle plans to add a few wrinkles to the bread-andbutter triple-option attack, including more looks out of the shotgun.

Leading what is perhaps the strength of the team is senior center and team captain Carter Bondurant (5-11, 260).

Markle says his veteran lineman deserves to be in the conversation for all-state honors.

Junior Hayden Kennedy (5-10, 225) will line up at left guard. He was an all-region pick as a sophomore and has put on about 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason.

Harris Cagle (6-0, 265), a senior, is the left tackle, where he started every game last season. He suf-

(See Page 11, Col. 1)

THE BLITZ

THE PROGRAM

COACH: Nick Markle CAREER: 33-22 (5 years) RECORD AT UC: 6-5 (2nd season) STADIUM: War Memorial Stadium REGION: 7-2A LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-5 PLAYOFF BERTHS: 29 ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RECORD: 52-25

2020 RESULTS

OPPONENT SCORE USJ L 3-35 • at Adamsville W 35-28 Fulton Co., Ky. W 28-12 • Gibson Co. W 21-14 South Side W 28-23 • at Peabody L 7-49 at Dyersburg L 7-49 • McKenzie L 48-49 Ripley W 29-21 • Halls W 56-0

CLASS 2A PLAYOFFS at Peabody L 0-35

2020 LEADERS

RUSHING

Att. Yds. TD Wes Tilghman 162 1,447 19 Travon Westbrook 209 1,174 8 Gage Smith 34 181 3 Kyrell Littleton 42 167 0

PASSING

A-C. Yds. TD Wes Tilghman 12-49 251 1

RECEIVING

Att. Yds. TD Jacob Arnold 3 81 1 Jonathon Stone 3 67 0

SCORING

TD/2pt PAT/FG Tot. Wes Tilghman 20/0 0/0 120 Travon Westbrook 8/0 0/0 48 Miguel Sanchez 0/0 34/2 40 Gage Smith 3/0 0 /0 18 Jacob Arnold 2/0 0/0 12

TACKLES

Total TFL Sack Gage Smith 54 3 2 Travon Westbrook 49 5 0 Kolby Craig 48 2 0 Alexander Cox 47 4 1 Donovan Martinez 43 7 2 ––––––

Returning players in italics

2020 TEAM

TOTALS

UC OPP. Points 262 315 Total Yards 3,520 3,265 Rushing 3,254 2,024 Passing 266 1,240 1st Downs 171 138 Fum./Lost 24/14 27/12

AUG. 20 2021 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: UNION CITY SCHEDULE AUG. 27 SEPT. 3 SEPT. 10 SEPT. 17 SEPT. 24 OCT. 1 OCT. 15 OCT. 22 OCT. 29

fered an injury in the Tornadoes’ final scrimmage, against Milan, and his status for the 2021 season is questionable.

While the left side is strong and experienced, the right side of the line is still a little green but just as talented.

Senior Amare Robinson (5-8, 230) is going to be counted on to be a tough, grinding type of lineman at the right guard spot, while junior Hayden Moon (6-0, 215) has the footwork needed for a right tackle in the team’s style of offense.

Look for senior Kyrell Littleton (59, 150) to be the featured back and leader of a talented group of skill players. Kolby Craig (5-9, 145), a junior, and freshman Tayehari Jones (5-7, 140) can make big plays from the wingback spots.

Jacob Arnold (5-9, 185), a sophomore, can play both backfield positions, while junior Gage Smith (5-10, 190) will also get some carries.

The quarterback spot has seen a strong two-man competition as sophomore Keaton Brown (5-11, 190) and junior Jackson Chism (510, 175) have both been solid in the preseason.

Brown held the edge going into the preseason, based on being able to participate in spring practice. Chism, a member of the basketball team, came out for football in May.

Senior Damon Rice (6-0, 155), another player who joined the team in May, leads a good group of receivers that will also include senior Champ Gray (5-10, 175) along with freshmen Cohen Simpson (5-8, 145) and Logan Vincent (5-8, 140).

DEFENSE

With a roster of 34 players, several of whom have never played before this season, being in peak physical shape will be vital as numerous players will go both ways in key roles.

Bondurant and classmate Jamaal Cox (5-7, 300) are both a handful at defensive tackle. If both can draw some double teams, then the linebackers will be free to load up on tackles.

Senior Evan Alexander (5-9, 200) has the potential for a breakout season at one defensive end spot, while Moon makes the conversion from being an end in a three-man front to a four-man front. Both have some size and the skill to push the play back to the inside for the interior linemen and linebackers to make the stops.

Smith, who led the Tornadoes with 54 tackles last season, and Kennedy both return to their inside linebacker spots. If the two can combine for 20 tackles a game, Markle says the defense will be successful.

Littleton overcame some knee injuries to be a solid outside linebacker last season and has been explosive in the preseason, while Arnold played a lot at the other OLB spot last season and can be a bigtimer as soon as he becomes more aggressive.

Craig is another player who gained plenty of experience last season, his coming at free safety where he’ll line up again.

He is the leader of a secondary that also includes Jones and Rice at the corners.

Rice was a track athlete for head coach Wade Maddox, the Twisters’ defensive coordinator, in the spring and has been a positive, hard-working player in the preseason.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Miguel Sanchez (5-9, 185), a junior, has established himself as a scoring threat for the Golden Tornadoes, having connected on 75 point-after kicks over the past two seasons while also kicking two field goals last year.

He will also again handle the kickoff duties.

Sanchez or the starting quarterback will likely do the punting, and Kennedy returns as the long snapper.

Craig or Vincent will be the holder.

Markle has several good skill players to choose from as the return men, tabbing Jones, Craig and Arnold for that role on kicks and punts.

Sports editor Kevin Weaks can be contacted by email at kweaks@ucmessenger.com.

2021 UNION CITY HIGH SCHOOL GOLDEN TORNADOES

Page 12

Long lost foes making return to 2021 slates

By KEVIN WEAKS Messenger Sports Editor

It’s been awhile.

All three football teams in Obion County are playing teams that have not been on their schedules for several years.

The shake-up of the new classifications and region alignments have Union City, Obion Central and South Fulton taking on some familiar faces that have not been around much lately.

Union City will play Huntingdon for the first time since 2014, has not seen Westview since 2008 and will get its first look at Camden in more than two decades as the last meeting was 1996.

Obion Central also has three opponents who have not been on the Rebel schedule in a few years. Both Jackson North Side and Chester County played OC in 2016, while Milan was last seen facing the Rebs in 2014.

South Fulton and Hollow RockBruceton last played against each other in 2016.

Here is a look back at those last meetings, and the seasons’ aftermath for the Golden Tornadoes, Rebels and Red Devils.

The Game: Huntingdon; Sept. 12, 2014; Union City won 35-7

The Story: Union City ran over and around the Mustangs all night in a dominant effort at War Memorial Stadium that improved the Golden Tornadoes to 4-0 while dropping Huntingdon to 2-2 on the season. UC fullback Ricky Henry ran for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries, while quarterback Garrett Walton added 147 yards and two more scores on 20 rushes. Meanwhile, the Twister defense limited the Ponies to just 167 total yards and came up with three turnovers in the second, the offense converting two of those into touchdowns.

The Aftermath: Win No. 17 in what would ultimately be a 38game winning streak for the Golden Tornadoes came in convincing fashion. It was typical of that 2014 season, where the Golden Tornadoes went 14-0, tied a school record for widest margin of victory with a 700 win over Halls and scored 60 or more points in a game six times. UC capped back-to-back state championships with a 56-14 win over Coalfield.

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The Game: Westview; Aug. 29, 2008; Westview won 27-14

The Story: Darren Bowling’s first game as head coach at Union City proved that a new era had dawned, even though it did not show up on the scoreboard. The Golden Tornadoes had 343 total yards to Westview’s 285 and 19 first downs to 14 for the Chargers. Trailing just 21-14 late in the fourth quarter, UC looked poised to tie or take the lead late in the game only to see Westview’s J.C. Griggs strip the ball from quarterback Colton Speed and scamper 41 yards the other way for the clinching touchdown. Jacob Worley scored both UC touchdowns — a 28-yard pass from Speed and a five-yard run.

The Aftermath: It was one of just two losses in the first season under Bowling. The Golden Tornadoes followed that season-opening setback with 10 straight wins, not losing again until the second round of the Class 1A playoffs when McKenzie avenged a regular season loss to UC with a 17-14 win.

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The Game: Camden; Oct. 18, 1996; Camden won 13-12

The Story: It was a game that UC gave away, suffering four turnovers. The Golden Tornadoes, who had suffered six turnovers each in earlier league losses to Westview and Peabody, saw the last of its four lost fumbles come at the Camden 11-yard-line with just over two minutes to play. UC’s scores came on a one-yard run by Chris Smith and a 56-yard run by Jackie Lewis, who finished with 97 yards on seven carries. But, the Twisters missed an extra-point kick and failed on a twopoint conversion run. UC had more total yards (254-231) and more rushing yards (238-221) despite the Lions running 63 total plays to UC’s 38.

The Aftermath: The heartbreaking setback all but knocked the Tornadoes out of the Class 2A state playoff picture, Union City closing the season with three losses in its last four games after beginning the year with a 5-1 record. It also marked the last time a UC team coached by Randy Barnes did not make the playoffs. The following year, Union City began a then-unprecedented run of six straight playoff appearances. From 1997-2000, the program posted an incredible 52-6 record and reached the 2A state championship game twice.

OBION CENTRAL

The Game: Milan; Oct. 31, 2014; Milan won 49-21

The Story: Halloween was a spooky night for the Rebels. It was scary for Milan early as OC’s Bryce Warner tied the game at 7-all and 14-14 on touchdown runs of 63 and two yards. A Milan fumble then set up Central to take a 21-14 lead, Warner scoring on a five-yard run with 8:46 to play in the second period. Milan scored three TDs to close the first half, however, and went on to win. Warner ran for 224 yards on 37 carries and finished the season with 1,243 yards and 16 TDs.

The Aftermath: The second — and final — season under head coach Kevin Goltra ended on that night, the Rebels closing the season with a four-game losing streak and a 2-8 record. OCCHS alum Paul Decker took over the following year, and after struggling the first two seasons, he led Central to a 5-7 record and playoff win in 2017.

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The Game: North Side; Sept. 9, 2016; North Side won 52-23

The Story: Obion Central looked great early, opening the game with a 16-play, 92-yard touchdown drive — aided by a North Side roughing-the-punter penalty — that took 10:26 off the clock and ended with Cade Rogers throwing an eightyard scoring pass to Bobby Kehoe. OC trailed just 16-15 at 3:17 of the second quarter on a Rogers 22-yard run, but then North Side blitzed the Rebels with three touchdowns in the final 44 seconds of the second quarter and two more in the first 45 seconds of the third period.

The Aftermath: It was the third of nine straight losses for the Rebels, which won its only game — 47-41 over Jackson South Side — in the opening week.

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The Game: Chester County; Sept. 16, 2016; Chester County won 41-21

The Story: The Rebels struggled on offense but did do some good things on offense, notably getting 145 yards and a touchdown on 18 rushing attempts from Hunter Smith. Cade Rogers and Kyler Shirley also had a TD run for an Obion Central offense that put up 300 total yards, all on the ground.

The Aftermath: The loss was the fourth of nine straight for Central, which eventually saw the skid reach 11 games before a four-game winning streak in 2017 led to a playoff berth. OC beat Craigmont 36-28 in Memphis in the opening round of the 2017 Class 4A state playoffs, marking just the third playoff win in school history.

SOUTH FULTON

The Game: Bruceton; Aug. 2627, 2016; South Fulton won 62-39

The Story: You read that right — August 26 and 27. The game was suspended Friday night due to lightning and picked up the following day at the Red Devils’ field. South Fulton jumped out to a 14-0 lead before Hollow Rock-Bruceton touched the ball on Friday and then scored seven more times on Saturday. Kody Davidson ran for 236 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries, while Jalen Scott had four TD runs for the Red Devils. SF was unstoppable, putting up 469 total yards and never punting the ball. It was a penalty-plagued game, though, SF flagged 14 times for 128 yards and the Tigers 12 for 112 yards.

The Aftermath: Although the Red Devils posted a 5-5 record, SF did not make the Class 1A playoffs. The Devils were 3-2 at the midway point of the season, but then consecutive losses to Dresden, Lake County and Peabody ended the team’s playoff hopes. SF closed on a strong note, beating Gleason and West Carroll, and then opened the 2017 season with four straight wins en route to a 6-5 mark and playoff berth.