By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Two weeks before its season opener against Lake County, Union City still has a handful of things to work on.
The Golden Tornadoes struggled to finish off drives and were riddled by the big play and lack of consistent intensity in their second scrimmage of the preseason at Munford Friday night.
UC gave up six offensive touchdowns and a couple more on defense while scoring just twice against the Class 5A Cougars.
The Twisters were without the services of starting quarterback/safety Sam Theobald (ribs) and fullback/linebacker Justin Wiggins (shoulder) – key cogs on both sides of the ball for a team that has precarious little depth.
Head coach Darren Bowling noted the obvious and also pointed out a couple of bright spots in the scrimmage that lasted over 2 ½ hours.
“They scored on the first play and I saw a couple of the guys drop their heads. That wasn’t good and that’s something we have to correct,” the veteran Purple and Gold coach claimed. “We have to fight through adversity during times like that, pick ourselves up and say ‘that’s not going to happen again.’ We have to learn to play with a chip on our shoulder.
“I thought we moved the ball well at times – even with our backup quarterback (Wes Tilghman) and second-team fullback (Carson Corley). Of course, having to play them there, it weakened us at their original positions where they’ve been starting. And we didn’t finish off three or four drives.
“I did think we showed a little fight late in the scrimmage and that’s something we have to do at all times… not when we get tired of getting pushed around. We have to learn to play hard and, even more importantly, play fast – all the time.”
UC got its only varsity touchdown when Tilghman took an option keeper 55 yards to paydirt midway through the scrimmage. Keandre Morris accounted for the Tornadoes’ other TD when reserves took the field, dashing 50 yards to the endzone.
Freshman Miguel Sanchez provided a highlight late in the scrimmage for Union City when he nailed 4-of-6 field goals during a special teams period – the longest of which was good from 37 yards.
Another frosh, Kolby Craig, had an interception that he carried deep into Munford territory and sophomore fullback Kevin Van Brocklin had a long run to the Cougar 10 during the jayvee period.
Union City will play at Milan in a preseason jamboree – its final test before opening the season – next Friday.
Photo by Mike Hutchens
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