By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Darren Bowling hopes that experience is indeed the best teacher.
The veteran Union City High School football coach returns a number of starters from last year’s team that overcame both injuries and adversity to advance to the state quarterfinals for the seventh time in the last 10 seasons.
And Bowling — who has directed the Tornadoes to all four of the program’s state titles and a 109-33 record in 11 previous campaigns — expects the seasoning that came with last year’s challenges to benefit the 2019 edition of the Purple and Gold as they look to challenge reigning state champion Trenton in Region 7-2A.
“I expect us to be better (than last year), just because of the experience we gained,” claimed the coach, whose squad won six of eight and two playoff games a year ago after a tough 1-4 start. “We’ll be better up front. We’re a year older, and we’re faster and stronger. And I think we’ll be able to spread the ball around more.
“Last year was really a unique year and, even though we didn’t end up where we wanted to be, it certainly could’ve been a lot worse. We achieved a lot, and for a program that ended up dressing just 25 kids and making it to Round 3 of the playoffs, we accomplished a lot and the kids gave us all they had.
“I think what we learned about ourselves last year and how we grew in the face of adversity will definitely help us be a better football team this year.”
Injury/depth concerns and the loss of All State fullback Kaleb Craig, who rushed for 2,165 yards in the second-best season in program history in 2018, figure to be – along with Peabody – UC’s biggest challenges of the coming year.
“As we saw last year, because of our numbers, when we have an injury and have to move someone to a different position, it actually is the equivalent to having two people hurt. We have to rob Peter to pay Paul,” insisted Bowling, who saw injuries force him to play three different quarterbacks a year ago.
“Plus, you don’t replace a back like Kaleb. Everybody knew he was the focal part of our offense and, even without a senior-dominant line and playing with three different quarterbacks, what he did was amazing.”
Though experience does indeed return this season for the Twisters, there are only eight seniors on the roster – but five with much previous playing time.
There is both seasoning and promise returning up front for an offense that will again operate off the run-dominated triple-option flexbone.
Seniors DJ Gray (5-10, 305) and Alex Rodriguez (6-4, 243) are veterans at center and tackle, respectively, with junior Neil Brown (6-4, 265) already entering his third year as a regular in the trenches as a tackle. Carter Bondurant (Soph., 5-9, 240) appears fully recovered from a knee injury that robbed him of half of his first season last year when he’d earned a starting position. Bondurant is penciled in to open at guard, with either Carson Corley (Sr., 5-7, 200) or sophomore Harris Cagle (5-9, 220) set to start at the other guard.
Depth will come from sophomores Amare Robinson, juniors Jason Bone and Mason Brinkley and senior Marcell McElrath.
Though hampered in the preseason by a rib injury, senior Sam Theobald (5-10, 170) – one of three players to see action at quarterback a year ago – is projected to open the season as the starting signal-caller. The heady Theobald ran for 359 yards and five touchdowns a year ago and has taken ownership of the position with good decisions and reads, according to Bowling.
Theobald will be backed up by Wes Tilghman, who’ll start at one of the slots otherwise. Tilghman (Jr., 5-9, 155) has big-play capabilities from either spot and was third on the team in rushing last season with 413 yards, five TDs and an 8.4 yards-per-carry average.
Travon Westbrook (Jr., 5-10, 190), Kyrell Littleton (Soph., 5-7, 170) and Durell Littleton (Fr., 5-8, 150) will share time at the other slot with Westbrook showing potential a year ago with five scores and a 10.1 ypc average.
Justin Wiggins (5-8, 180) will get the opening nod at the feature fullback spot, despite missing much of the preseason with injury. Corley is the back-up, with sophomore Kevin VanBrocklin (5-9, 195) also in the mix.
The receiver positions will be handled by a committee that includes junior Jonathan Stone (5-7, 150) freshman Kolby Craig (5-6, 135), Durell Littleton and Tilghman.
Freshman Miguel Sanchez has won the place-kicker/kickoff job with a strong and accurate leg. VanBrocklin will handle the punting chores.
Defensively, Rodriquez and Brown – the latter of whom led the team in tackles behind the line last season — should be forces at the end spots. Cagle and Bone are the backups. Bondurant and Gray will hold down the tackle spots, with McElrath and Robinson providing depth.
Some combination of Corley (who led the team in sacks a year ago), Wiggins, Kyrell Littleton and freshman Hayden Kennedy (5-7, 175) will fill the inside linebacker spots, with Westbrooks, VanBrocklin, Stone and Kyrell Littleton working at the outside positions.
Stone, Tilghman and Craig are in line for duty at the corners, while Theobald – the top tackler on last year’s unit – and Tilghman are lining up at safety.
“I know a lot of people are talking about Trenton being the favorite to repeat (as state champions), but we will always feel like we’re a program that people will have to go through to get there,” Bowling concluded. “Just like we always felt like they were a program that we had to get through when we won, they’re really good. And because our league is so rugged and so full of good, sound, physical football teams, every week will be a test.
“Our guys are tough – both physically and mentally. This group of seniors certainly wants to continue the tradition of success that the others before them had. They’ve been motivated in the offseason, and we’ve intentionally scheduled some really good people in the preseason.
“We have the same expectations that we always have – to be playing football in late November and early December and to be competing for the big prize.”
UC opens its season Friday with a trip to Tiptonville to play highly-regarded Lake County. The Falcons have made the Class 1A semifinals the last two seasons and return a wealth of experience from last year’s team.