By Mike Hutchens
UC Schools Communications Director
A highly-competitive season-opening loss to perennial Kentucky state power Mayfield did nothing to dissuade voters from giving Union City much respect in the first Associated Press state football rankings of the season.
The reigning Class 2A state champion Tornadoes were ranked No. 1 in Monday’s first AP listing of the 2018 campaign.
UC, winners of four state titles in the last nine years, fell 43-27 to 12-time Kentucky champion Mayfield in its Week 1 opener. The Twisters led 27-20 entering the fourth quarter before the Cardinals scored the final 23 points of the contest against a tiring Purple and Gold squad.
Union City received eight of 14 first-place ballots cast by member writers and broadcasters across the state. Second-ranked Meigs County got four first-place nods, while Columbia Academy and Trenton gained one apiece while coming in at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.
Adamsville, a third member of Region 7-2A along with UC and Peabody, was also ranked — coming in ninth.
The Golden Tornadoes and Tyner Academy, who played in last year’s BlueCross Bowl, were the only two teams listed in the first Top 10 of the season to lose in Week 1. Tyner was beaten by 21-7 by 6A Ooltewah in its opener.
Union City’s Week 2 foe and home opener — Jackson South Side — is ranked No. 9 in Class 4A after romping over Ripley, 55-10.
AP RANKINGS
CLASS 2A
- Union City
- Meigs County
- Columbia Academy
- Trenton
- Tyner Academy
- Waverly
- Eagleville
- Marion County
- Adamsville
- Lewis County
Photo by Mike Hutchens