By Mike Hutchens, Uc Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–James Burcham decided to give football a try his senior year.
Everyone associated with the Union City program is certainly glad he did.
A week after Burcham picked off two passes to help the Tornadoes beat Fulton County, the first-year player came up with a game-saving interception in the endzone with four seconds to play to help UC hold off Gibson County 21-14 Friday night at War Memorial Stadium.
The nail-biting triumph was the Twisters’ second in as many Region 7-2A games and third straight since a season-opening loss to University School of Jackson.
Burcham’s Friday night heroics came on a fourth-and-goal play after GC had driven from its own 25 to the Union City five yard-line on its final possession. He leaped high to snag a John Phillips pass intended for James Turner in the right corner of the endzone to set off a Purple and Gold celebration.
“He’s improved by leaps and bounds the past couple of weeks,” a smiling UC head coach Nick Markle said of Burcham after the contest. “He has really good ball skills ‑‑ as everyone has seen the last two games ‑‑ and he has great hands and good speed, too. The more he plays, the better he’ll get.
“I’m certainly glad he’s a Golden Tornado football player.”
Burcham’s headline-making play was not the only highlight for a unit that recorded nine tackles for lost yardage. Linebacker Gage Smith had a monster game with 17 total tackles, including nine solos (two behind the line of scrimmage) and a fumble recovery.
Donovan Martinez and Travon Westbrook both had two tackles for losses and 10 total each, while Kolby Craig also registered 10 stops.
Burcham made a big play at the end of the first half, too, knocking away a fourth-down pass in the endzone to help preserve a 7-all deadlock at the intermission.
The Tornadoes then scored on their first two offensive series after the break to take a 21-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Wes Tilghman cut across the grain and won a 68-yard TD sprint against the Pioneer defense on Union City’s first snap of the third period.
Tilghman, who rushed for a season-high 180 yards on just 14 carries and eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in as many games, then capped an eight-plan 83-yard drive with a similar nifty 33-yard scoring keeper on which he cut across field and outran the visitors’ defense.
The Purple and Gold had gained possession to begin the drive when Hayden Moon recovered a fumble forced by Neil Brown after the Pioneers had driven deep into UC territory.
Miguel Sanchez, who has yet to miss a kick this season (12-for-12 PATs, one FG), made all three extra-points after Union City scores.
Gibson County did not go quietly, though.
Perfectly executing a double-pass on a 4th-and-12 from the Twister 14, the Pioneers drew to within the final margin with still 8:29 to play.
After stopping the Purple and Gold just short on a fourth-down attempt at its 41, GC took over at the 6:04 mark and kept possession for 15 plays before Burcham and the Union City defense ultimately sealed the deal.
“Our backs were against the wall there late, and we just needed somebody to make a play,” Markle said. “We had a feeling that if they scored, they’d go for two and try to win the game.
“We’re still playing a lot of young guys on that side of the ball, and some others who might be older, but who don’t have a lot of experience, like Burcham. It was nice to see them step up and finish the deal and it was certainly a reason for us to exhale.”
The Tornadoes scored on their opening drive after Smith pounced on a Pioneer fumble at the GC 32 to put Union City in prime position. Westbrook did the honors, bulling his way in from the five, giving his team a quick lead with the contest barely three minutes old.
Gibson County took advantage of a failed UC fourth-down try to even the count, Hollis taking a handoff on a reverse and motoring 18 yards to paydirt with just 21 seconds left in the opening stanza.
Markle said the importance of the win could not be overstated.
“This puts us in a really good position as far as making the playoffs,” he said. “There are just so many uncertainties with not knowing which teams can and will play due to the coronavirus. Being 2-0 in the region is a whole lot different than being 1-1 with those unknowns moving forward. Just getting into the postseason in a year like this … you never know what might happen or what could happen.
“Did we play our best? No. But we played well enough and did enough at the right times to win. And in a season like this, all you want to do is take advantage of every opportunity you have. Our kids play with so much heart and determination and it’s really good to see that attitude and effort rewarded with a win.”
Union City will celebrate homecoming next week against Class 4A Jackson South Side.
Union City 21, Gibson Co. 14
Gibson Co. 7 0 0 7 — 14
Union City 7 0 14 7 — 21
SCORING
UC — Travon Westbrook 5 run (Miguel Sanchez kick) 8:55, 1st
GC — Wyatt Hollis 18 run (Hayden Crandall kick) 0:21, 1st
UC — Wes Tilghman 68 run (Sanchez kick) 11:39, 3rd
UC — Tilghman 33 run (Sanchez kick) 1:24, 3rd
GC — Hollis 14 pass from John Phillips (Crandall kick) 8:29, 4th
GC UC
Total Offense 325 299
Rush Att.-Yards 49-248 41-299
Comp.-Att.-Int 6-14-1 0-2-0
Passing Yards 77 0
First Downs 16 13
Punts-Avg. 3-30.0 —
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-Yds. 8-73 4-25
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Gibson Co. — Ethan Ward 21-94, Colton Lumpkin 12-64, Wyatt Hollis 5-60, John Phillips 7-22, Damarea Smith 2-16, Dearion Allen 1-(-4), Team 1-(-4). Union City — Wes Tilghman 14-180, Travon Westbrook 15-90, Durrell Littleton 4-19, Jonathan Stone 3-10, Gage Smith 2-9, Jacob Arnold 1-(-2), Team 2-(-7).
PASSING: Gibson Co. — John Phillips 5-13-1 – 73. Union City — Wes Tilghman 0-2-0 — 0.
RECEIVING: Gibson Co. — James Turner 4-59, Wyatt Hollis 1-14, Colton Lumpkin 1-4 Union City — None.
RECORDS: Gibson Co. 1-3 (1-1); Union City 3-1 (2-0).
NEXT GAME: Union City celebrates Homecoming and hosts Jackson South Side, Friday, Sept. 25.