By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The same formula that worked for Union City during the regular season was good enough to help the Golden Tornadoes advance to Round 2 of the playoffs.
A dominant triple-option run game coupled with a small handful of timely plays on defense and special teams was the ticket for UC to move on in the postseason with a 46-38 victory over Douglass Friday night at War Memorial Stadium.
Fullback Justin Wiggins ran for 213 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of conversions, and the Twisters came up with a pair of interceptions and recovered a squib kickoff to win their fourth straight game by beating the Memphians for the third year in a row in the opening round of the playoffs.
Next up for Union City (7-4) is a trip to Memphis where seventh-ranked Fairley (9-2) awaits in Round 2 next week. The Tornadoes beat Fairley 35-28 last season at this juncture.
The venue for next week’s game is yet to be determined as the Bulldogs do not have an on-campus stadium.
As was the case during the regular season, the Purple and Gold leaned heavily on its ground-and-pound ball-control offense for much of Friday’s win against an athletic and feisty Red Devil bunch that ended the year with a 6-5 record.
Wiggins – often running behind guard Carter Bondurant and tackle Alex Rodriguez – was a workhorse with 43 carries as UC ran nearly twice as many plays (66-38) as the Memphis visitors and rolled up 437 total yards. Another overpowering performance by the Tornado offense line that gradually wore down Douglass was critical, but so, too, was an efficient passing game that produced three completions in four attempts and keyed three scoring drives.
Quarterback Sam Theobald ran for TDs of 49 and 34 yards and hooked up twice with Wes Tilghman for big gains in first-half scoring drives and another time with Travon Westbrook to set up another TD as the Red Devils stacked all 11 defenders near the line of scrimmage.
UC also converted on 6-for-6 fourth-down conversions to keep drives alive in the contest.
Defensively, Theobald and Tilghman both came up with interceptions, but it was Wiggins’ recovery of a squib kick that bounced off several players beforehand in the second quarter that provided a big momentum swing UC’s way and helped the Twisters to a 32-14 halftime lead.
The Tornadoes then weathered a couple of Douglass scores that cut the difference to 32-30 midway through the third period with methodical scoring drives of nine and eight plays to regain control with eight minutes to play.
“I thought we played well for the most part against a very athletic football team that we knew was going to make plays during the game,” Union City head coach Darren Bowling said. “Offensively, except for the one turnover, we were good. We were efficient. Wiggins ran the ball well and protected it for the most part, and I thought Sam (Theobald) ran it and threw it well.
“I’ve said all year that I wasn’t afraid to throw the ball because we have guys at the slots like Tilghman and Travon who can catch it. And I thought those two also did a good job of putting their heads down and getting the extra yards when they ran it.
“And our guys up front gave us a great push – just like they have all season. I thought that was especially important on the fourth-down plays.”
Temperatures that plummeted below the freezing mark seemingly had little effect on the Tornadoes, who had just one turnover and two penalties in the contest.
“The cold didn’t bother us, and I’m not really surprised by that,” Bowling continued. “We talk to our guys all the time about the teams who advance the farthest in the playoffs are the ones who can play in all elements and the ones who are physical and run the football well.
“I thought that was us tonight.”
Douglass had its fair share of big gainers, including a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half and five passing plays of 20 yards or longer.
And Bowling said that was to be expected of an opponent that showcased several athletes, led by Eric Davis, who led the team in rushing and receiving and accounted for four of the Red Devils’ five scores.
“Teams like that are going to break some plays, no matter if you’re in good defensive position or not,” the coach insisted. “You have to get them on the ground, and that’s not easy sometimes.
“I did think we made a few plays on defense, with the two interceptions, and A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) had a couple of sacks there in the fourth quarter.”
Theobald, the top tackler on the season, led the Union City defense with 10 total stops – including eight solos. Linebackers Kyrell Littleton and Alexander Cox were in on a half-dozen tackles each.
Almost immediately afterward, Bowling turned his attention to next week’s foe and star tailback Terry Wilkins, a Mr. Football finalist last season and 1,000-yard rusher this year.
“We not only have to contain him, but we must get him on the ground, too,” Bowling concluded. “That’s a really, really good team we’re going to play. They’re explosive offensively, and defensively, they’re very physical and dominating as evidenced by them shutting out Adamsville in the first round.
“It will be a huge challenge for us.”
Union City is now 52-23 all-time in the state playoffs.
Union City 46, Douglass 38
Douglass 6 8 16 8 — 38
Union City 8 24 8 6 — 46
UC — Justin Wiggins 1 run (Travon Westbrook run). 7:43, 1st
D — Eric Davis 20 pass from Damion Mitchell (run failed). 5:59, 1st
UC — Wes Tilghman 1 run (Westbrook run). 9:35, 2nd
D — Davis 5 run (Jucarian Scales pass from Mitchell). 7:00, 2nd
UC — Sam Theobald 49 run (Wiggins run). 4:46, 2nd
UC — Wiggins 4 run (Wiggins run). 2:35, 2nd
D — Davis 95 kickoff return (Mauricio Galloway run). 11:36, 3rd
D — Anfernee Wilson 4 run (Galloway run). 7:28, 3rd
UC — Wiggins 10 run (Tilghman run). 3:33, 3rd
UC— Theobald 34 run (run failed). 8:05, 4th
D — Davis 1 run (Wilson run). 3:47, 4th
D UC
Total Offense 273 437
Rush Att.-Yards 26-139 62-364
Comp.-Att.-Int 6-12-2 3-4-0
Passing Yards 134 73
First Downs 12 23
Punts-Avg. — —
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 1-1
Penalties-Yds. 8-60 2-10
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Douglass — Eric Davis 11-61, Anfernee Wilson 8-54, Mauricio Galloway 4-52, Damion Mitchell 3-(-28). Union City — Justin Wiggins 43-213, Sam Theobald 5-88, Travon Westbrook 4-31, Wes Tilghman 6-24, Kyrell Littleton 3-10, Team 1-(-2).
PASSING: Douglass – Damion Mitchell 6-12-2 – 134. Union City – Sam Theobald 3-4-0 – 73.
RECEIVING: Douglass — Eric Davis 4-78, Jucarian Scales 1-31, Jermelle Gaither 1-25. Union City — Wes Tilghman 2-54, Travon Westbrook 1-19.
RECORDS: Douglass 6-5; Union City 7-4.
NEXT GAME: UC will play Fairley (9-2) in Memphis in Round 2 of the Class 2A playoffs, Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.
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