By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–A simple six-letter word will go a long way toward determining Union City’s football fortunes for the 2021 season.
Health.
Head coach Nick Markle acknowledged as such when forecasting the Golden Tornadoes’ coming season as he prepared the Purple and Gold for their opener against Lake County tonight.
“I know it’s a coaching cliché, but we have to stay healthy,” insisted Markle, who went 6-5 in his first season at the UC helm last year. “We have some really good players and some great kids, but our numbers aren’t where we can afford a lot of injuries.
“The ones we do have, though, I love them. They’ve made tremendous strides in the preseason, and I like the direction in which we’re trending. If we can stay healthy, I believe we can do great things.”
The injury bug has already bitten Union City in the preseason with the season-ending loss of linemen Harris Cagle and a couple of other less-severe injuries that have forced Markle to juggle his rotation.
He insists that with no other injuries, he has realistic high expectations for this year’s bunch.
“I’m really pleased up to this point,” the coach continued. “They kids have worked hard, both in the offseason and in the preseason. It’s a close-knit group. They care about each other.
“And they understand we can’t put them in bubble wrap to protect them. We have to work hard each day in practice to get ourselves ready for Friday nights. Injuries are always a part of the game. So is playing through some things.”
Center Carter Bondurant – an All-Region pick last season — headlines a group in the trenches that includes fellow all-league performer Hayden Kennedy. Juniors Hayden Moon and Carson Collins, seniors Evan Alexander and Amare Robinson, sophomore Jayce Rogers and promising freshman Keylon Roberson also are in the mix.
“That’s a good group and they’ve all gotten a lot stronger than they were at this time last year,” Markle said. “They should be a strength of this year’s team.”
Senior Kyrell Littleton will be the feature back in UC’s triple-option offense and needs only to stay healthy to fulfill his potential after an injury-plagued junior campaign. Gage Smith and Jacob Arnold are capable as both blockers and runners at halfback, while freshman Tayehari Jones and Kolby Craig give the Purple and Gold a big-play threat at both halfback and/or receiver.
Sophomore Keaten Brown will be the triggerman at quarterback and has already earned the reputation of being a hard-nosed runner who is willing to turn keepers upfield in traffic.
Junior Miguel Sanchez makes the Union City special teams a weapon as both the place-kicker and punter after earning All-Region accolades in 2020. Sanchez made 34 PATs and two field goals a year ago.
Defensively, defending the run has been a strong point in the preseason for the Twisters.
Smith led the team in tackles (54) from his linebacker post a year ago. Craig was third from his secondary post, while Kennedy ranked sixth at LB.
Jamaal Cox is expected to be a huge run-stuffer at defensive tackle, while more of the same is needed from Moon on the edge after he recorded five sacks last season at end.
The secondary will be young with perhaps two freshmen seeing extensive action, but there is promise among the group.
“I like this group a lot. And they like each other a lot and have the type of camaraderie that you see with special teams,” Markle said. “They hold each other accountable, and they have high expectations of themselves.
“My hope is that we can stay away from injuries and that will allow us to realize our potential.”