By Mike Hutchens, Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The Union City-Peabody rematch started out a lot like the first meeting of the two this season.
Unfortunately for the Golden Tornadoes, it also ended like that initial matchup.
UC failed to convert a first-possession Trenton fumble into points after moving deep inside Tide territory, then paid dearly for four turnovers in what was ultimately a 35-0 season-ending loss in Round 2 of the Class 2A state playoffs Friday night.
The Purple and Gold concluded its 2020 campaign at 6-5.
Top-ranked and unbeaten Peabody (11-0), which beat UC 49-7 earlier this season, will continue its quest for a third straight state championship next week and put its 34-game winning streak on the line in a home quarterfinal matchup against McKenzie. The Rebels (8-3) beat Adamsville 31-0 Friday and will look to avenge a 35-21 regular season loss to Trenton.
Self-inflicted damage and the failure to capitalize on an early break ended any hopes Union City had of knocking off the Tide in their second meeting of the season Friday. Three interceptions and a lost fumble on a kickoff return set up short fields for the host team, which scored 21 first-quarter points and never look back.
A Tornado fumble recovery by Jacob Arnold on Peabody’s second play from scrimmage gave the Twisters early momentum, and UC knocked out a pair of first downs on the ground before Carson Vandiver came up with the first of Trenton’s picks that set up the Tide’s initial score.
Six snaps later, the host team was in the endzone for a 7-0 lead.
UC suffered another crippling blow on the ensuing kickoff when a fumble on the return and a Peabody recovery at the eight led to the first of Drequan Vaughn’s three rushing TDs and a 14-0 advantage.
The Tornadoes essentially could never recover, despite a commendable effort by their defense, which surrendered just 192 total yards after giving up 472 in the first game between the two in late September.
Linebacker Gage Smith was in on a team-high eight tackles, one for lost yards and a forced fumble, while Wes Tilghman had four solos and five hits altogether.
“Those first two turnovers killed us. They really took the wind out of our sails,” first-year Union City head coach Nick Markle said afterward. “The interception on that first drive zapped us pretty good, and then the fumble on the kickoff return was really a momentum-killer.”
A critical pass interference flag on the Twisters, after they failed to move the ball on their next series, set up another Trenton TD and made it a three-touchdown game with still 47 seconds left in the first quarter.
Vaughn showcased his abilities on the defensive side of the ball on Peabody’s next possession when he intercepted a halfback pass and scooted 47 yards to paydirt to make it 28-0.
Trenton scored on its first possession after the intermission to set the running-clock and mercy rule in motion.
Union City could never get its offense in full motion in the contest, held to a season-low 190 yards. The Twisters’ potent one-two rushing punch of quarterback Tilghman and fullback Travon Westbrook – which entered the contest with more than 2,500 rushing yards and 27 TDs between them – was limited to a combined 89 yards on 28 carries by the Peabody defense, which recorded its third straight shutout.
The contest was the last in a UC uniform for more than a dozen seniors, including Tilghman, Westbrook, Donovan Martinez, Jonathan Stone, Vinson Burnett, James Burcham, Alexander Cox, Jason Bone, Mason Brinkley, Neil Brown, Keandre Moss, Harrison Huff, Keylon Bean, and Jon Brayden Powers.
“What a crew, just a great group of young men,” Markle said of his 12th-grade class. “These young men are going to go on and do great things in life. It was my honor and privilege to be their football coach. They welcomed me in March, and they made my first year as head coach at Union City High School a memorable one.
“I hate it that we came up short, but they played with heart and they truly love each other. That, as a football coach, is what you want to see out of a senior group.”
Markle and his returning troops will now move on to the offseason, intent on rebounding from a disappointing season-ending loss with hard work in the weight room and in agility sessions.
“Every failure and every shortcoming is a learning experience,” he said. “We learned a lot playing Peabody a couple of times, but this program already knows what it takes to be a champion. It takes unlimited effort, and that’s probably the best thing Peabody does.
“The offseason is paramount to our success. The weight room and the offseason is when you win championships – not the 48 minutes on Friday night. We’re going to take a couple of weeks off and then we’re going to hit the ground running. I want our kids to have this bad taste in their mouths the entire offseason and for it to be motivation when we begin a new league next fall.”
Peabody 35, Union City 0
Union City 0 0 0 0 — 0
Peabody 21 7 7 0 — 35
SCORING
P — Sam Driggers 1 run (Isaiah Hicks kick) 6:01, 1st
P — Drequan Vaughn 8 run (Hicks kick) 5:49, 1st
P — Vaughn 19 run (Hicks kick) 0:47, 1st
P — Vaughn 47 interception return (Hicks kick) 7:47, 2nd
P — Vaughn 6 run (Hicks kick) 9:52, 3rd
UC P
Total Offense 190 192
Rush Att.-Yards 47-158 28-174
Comp.-Att.-Int 2-10-3 2-3-0
Passing Yards 32 18
First Downs 12 10
Punts-Avg. 1-32 —
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-2
Penalties-Yds. 5-50 2-20
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Union City — Travon Westbrook 17-59, Jacob Arnold 8-37, Wes Tilghman 11-30, Kyrell Littleton 6-21, Jonathan Stone 4-12, James Burcham 1-(-1). Peabody — Drequan Vaughn 8-79, Khalik Ganaway 13-70, Sam Driggers 3-20, Cam’Ron Bonds 2-3, William Baskerville 2-2.
PASSING: Union City — Wes Tilghman 1-7-1 – 17, Travon Westbrook 1-2-1 – 15, James Burcham 0-1-1 — 0. Peabody — Sam Driggers 2-3-0 — 18.
RECEIVING: Union City — Jonathan Stone 1-17, Wes Tilghman 1-15. Peabody — Khalik Ganaway 1-18, Malik Ganaway 1-0.
RECORDS: Union City 6-5; Peabody 11-0.