By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–When Union City didn’t cash in, Peabody made the Tornadoes pay.
UC failed to score on three trips inside the Trenton 15-yard line and then watched as the Tide ripped off a succession of big plays in what was ultimately a 49-7 Twister loss Friday night at Walter Kilzer Stadium.
The win was the 30th straight for over three seasons for Peabody — the reigning two-time Class 2A champion and current No. 1 ranked team in the Associated Press prep poll.
The setback ended a four-game Union City (4-2) winning streak and left the Purple and Gold at 2-1 in the Region 7 standings – still trailing only Trenton (7-0, 3-0).
Though the final count might not reflect it, the Twisters actually went toe-to-toe with Peabody for most of the first half, behind just 14-7 just two minutes before intermission after quarterback Wes Tilghman ran for UC’s lone score from the two.
The Tornadoes actually could’ve been in much-better shape at that time.
When Alexander Cox picked off Peabody QB Sam Driggers on the game’s third play from scrimmage, UC had the ball at the Tide 14. The Twisters’ opening drive stalled at the nine, though, and Miguel Sanchez’s 26-yard field goal was partially deflected to keep Union City off the scoreboard.
After Khalik Ganaway motored 61 yards to paydirt to give Trenton a 7-0 lead, the Tornadoes appeared poised to answer. Aided by a pair of penalties and with both Tilghman and fullback Travon Westbrook grinding for nice yardage on a 10-play march, UC moved to the Peabody 12 before the drive ended on downs.
Then, in the third quarter, the Twisters had the ball inside the Tide 10 after Tilghman had jetted 73 yards. That drive came up empty as well, however, with a lost fumble at the Trenton seven.
“We had some chances to get them on their heels a little bit and to answer some of their big plays, but we just couldn’t finish drives,” Tornado head coach Nick Markle said afterward. “We really had an opportunity to get some early momentum with that turnover, and even when the drive stalled out, I thought if we could get on the board first that would be big.
“And then, we looked like we were going to answer after their first touchdown and came up just short on that fourth down measurement.
“I think our guys saw we could play with them. It just boils down to us making plays.”
The second of Driggers’ TD passes – a 44-yarder to Malik Ganaway with 1:18 to go before halftime – was huge — doubling Peabody’s margin (21-7) and beginning a 35-point barrage of unanswered points by the host team.
Khalik Ganaway had scoring runs of 93 and 61 yards and caught one of Driggers’ three touchdown passes for a third score to headline a Tide attack that rolled up 472 yards and averaged over 12 yards-per-play.
Driggers rebounded from his early pick to complete 9-of-17 passes for 150 yards and TDs to three different receivers.
Trenton scored 21 third-quarter points to break the game open, marking the first time an opponent has scored against UC in the period this season.
“Those big plays are heartbreakers,” Markle confirmed. “Peabody does a very good job at what they do, and you have to be gap-sound and not only play your responsibility, but also execute flawlessly to stop them.
“If you don’t, they make you pay instantly. It’s what good teams do to you.”
Tilghman extended his streak of 100-yard rushing games to six, finishing with 138 yards on 11 carries for the Tornadoes. Westbrook earned every one of his 79 yards on 24 carries.
Union City rushed for 266 yards but failed to complete a pass.
Durrell Littleton and Gage Smith had four tackles apiece to head the Twister tackle chart.
“Losses like this test the mettle of your team,” Markle added. “Everybody likes to win and sometimes, winning looks easy. It certainly hasn’t been for us this year with a run of close games before this one.
“I like that my guys fought hard despite what the score ended up being. We had guys like Carter Bondurant and Neil Brown blocking guys way down the field late in the game when the outcome had been decided.
“We’ll go back and look at the film and see where corrections are needed. We’ll get some good leadership at practice. We’re not going to go away. I expect to see the same guys again down the road and that’ll be another opportunity with hopefully a different outcome.”
Union City will play at Dyersburg next week.
Tornado fans have been allotted 250 tickets for the contest and they will be on sale at UCHS from 8-10 a.m., Monday and Tuesday, for $6 each.
There will be no tickets sold at the gate, nor online.
Peabody 49, Union City 7
Union City 0 7 0 0 — 7
Peabody 7 14 21 7 — 49
SCORING
P — Khalik Gannaway 61 run (Isaiah Hicks kick) 8:25, 1st
P — Demarkus Kee 17 pass from Sam Driggers (Hicks kick) 9:47, 2nd
UC — Wes Tilghman 2 run (Miguel Sanchez kick) 2:19, 2nd
P — Malik Ganaway 44 pass from Driggers (Hicks kick) 1:18, 2nd
P — K. Ganaway 28 from Driggers (Hicks kick) 8:25, 3rd
P — K. Ganaway 93 run (Hicks kick) 5:05, 3rd
P — M. Ganaway 21 pass from Driggers (Chase Minton kick) 1:25, 3rd
P — Cam’Ron Bonds 60 run (Minton kick) 6:43, 4th
UC P
Total Offense 266 472
Rush Att.-Yards 47-266 20-322
Comp.-Att.-Int 0-5-1 9-17-1
Passing Yards 0 150
First Downs 11 15
Punts-Avg. 3-21.3 —
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-0
Penalties-Yds. 5-46 9-80
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Union City — Wes Tilghman 11-138, Travon Westbrook 24-79, Jonathan Stone 3-28, Gage Smith 4-11, Durrell Littleton 4-9, Kyrell Littleton 1-1. Trenton — Khalik Ganaway 13-235, Cam’Ron Bonds 1-60, London Burkett 3-23, Sam Driggers 3-4.
PASSING: Union City — Wes Tilghman 0-5-1 – 0. Trenton — Sam Driggers 9-17-1 — 150.
RECEIVING: Union City — None. Trenton — Malik Ganaway 4-82, Demarkus Lee 2-22, Carson Vandiver 2-18, Khalik Ganaway 1-28.
RECORDS: Union City 4-2 (2-1); Trenton 7-0 (3-0).
NEXT GAME: Union City plays at Dyersburg, Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.