By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The Union City Middle School football team closed out the home portion of its season with a bang.
The Golden Tornadoes routed visiting Dyersburg 44-14 Thursday night to improve to 5-0 with one game remaining in their 2020 campaign.
The convincing victory represented UC’s highest point output of the season and marked the fourth time the Purple and Gold had won by a double-figure margin. The Twisters led 22-14 at halftime, then tacked on three more touchdowns in the second half while holding D’burg scoreless.
Tayehari Jones had another monster game with 282 yards rushing, four touchdowns and three two-point conversions on offense. He had scoring runs of 62, 64, 56 and 20 yards.
Defensively, Jones also led the Tornadoes with nine tackles.
There were plenty other impressive performances for Union City, too.
Quarterback Ben Wade set the tone early with a punishing long run that set up the Twisters’ first score and finished with 80 yards rushing on just four carries. Wade found the endzone on a 45-yard romp in the third period.
Aiden Reed capped UC’s first TD march with a one-yard plunge on his team’s opening possession.
On defense, the Twisters totally bottled up the visitors in the second half.
Wade was a stalwart on that side of the ball, too, with eight tackles – one behind the line and a forced fumble. Kelen Roberson recovered a pair of fumbles, made five stops and had a tackle for lost yards. Jack Harris also was credited with five tackles.
Gavin Morgan had two takedowns behind the line of scrimmage and Reed recorded a tackle for lost yards.
Union City will close out its regular season next Thursday with a game at Northview.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
UC 3, Humboldt 0
The Lady Tornadoes breezed to their 10th win in 12 matches and racked up another district win in the process.
Union City’s service game was strong, with Kaigan Davis (17), Erin Oatsvall (14) and Raegan Taylor (11) all accounting for big points.
Anna Lynn Cheatham was solid in the frontcourt with 10 kills, with Taylor chipping in with nine. Davis and Abby Suiter were credited with eight kills apiece.
Chloe Pritchard, Marlee Johnson, Sara Ullrich and Annie Wade were lauded for their defensive coverage.
UC travels to Gibson County on Monday, then plays host to Trenton on Tuesday of next week.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Paris Inman 8, UC 4
The Lady Tornadoes were hurt by five errors and saw their record dip to 5-4 with a home loss to the Henry Countians.
PI scored four times in the sixth to break open a tight game.
Alli Kate Frilling and Kennedi Robinson both went 2-for-3, with Frilling driving in a run and Robinson scoring one. Madie Theobald and Clare Atwill also had RBI and scored, while both Addison Carr and Claire Filling crossed the plate.
Alli Kate Frilling was charged with the pitching loss after tossing the first five-plus innings. Carr finished up.
UC’s Saturday games against Obion County entries Black Oak and Lake Road have been canceled.
The Lady Twisters next play Monday at home against Ridgemont.