By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It turned out, Mother Nature did Union City a big favor.
Their game at Camden halted for over an hour at the end of the first quarter due to a lightning delay, the Tornadoes emerged from the break with much more intensity and erased a one-score deficit on their way to an eventual 20-8 win over the Lions Friday night.
The victory assured UC of no worse than third place in Region 7-2A, with still the opportunity to move up to second and earn a first-round playoff home game if the Twisters can win at Huntingdon in two weeks.
Jacob Arnold ran for 185 yards and a touchdown in a new-look Purple and Gold offense, and the Twister defense produced three turnovers to help offset a sluggish start, two TDs that were called back and some head-scratching officiating.
A sloppy field that endured heavy rains before kickoff and questions about whether the contest would start on time and when it would resume after the delay were all part of a long night for the two teams. It got longer in the late in the contest when Camden’s Tucker Jackson had to be removed from the field by stretcher after taking a big hit following a pass reception.
“We really endured a lot tonight to come out with this win,” UC head coach Nick Markle said afterward. “From the weather before the game, to the lightning, to some crazy calls, it wasn’t real pretty at times. But our kids are grinders. That we’ve overcome so much to this point in the season, with the injuries and so many other things, and that we’re sitting here at 6-2 with a playoff ticket already in a hand, is a testimony to our kids’ toughness.
“In a strange way, I feel like the delay helped us a lot. We had the long bus ride to get here and we didn’t start with the type of urgency that Camden had. It was a big game for both of us as far as seeding, and I thought we matched their intensity after we came back following the delay.
“With technology the way it is now, we took advantage of the delay and essentially watched the whole first quarter and made some adjustments. We were able to coach them up some. I really believe it ended up working in our favor.”
Union City debuted the three-man I-formation offensively, getting away from its long-standing triple-option attack. And Arnold, who was at the rear of the set behind Kyrell Littleton and Gage Smith, had the biggest night of his young career.
The sophomore scatback raced 64 yards to paydirt on the Tornadoes’ first snap from scrimmage following the lightning delay to get UC on the scoreboard and within 8-7 after Miguel Sanchez drilled the extra point. Arnold also had TDs of 15 and 70 yards called back by an officiating crew that administered a rarely-seen unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Union City crowd that thwarted another drive.
Arguably, the biggest play of the first half and maybe the game came when Littleton muscled his way into the endzone on the final snap before intermission to cap an impressive two-minute drive and put the Twisters ahead. Arnold did net 32 yards on a carry that was partially negated by a flag and Jackson Chism hooked up with Smith for a 14-yard gain to set up the score.
“That was huge,” Markle agreed. “Not only did it give us the lead, but we knew we were getting the ball back to start the second half. I thought that drive and that score really swung the momentum in our favor.”
The UC defense did its part against the Lions’ single-wing attack, limiting the host team to barely 100 yards in each half. Cohen Simpson and Kolby Craig both had interceptions in the second half – the former halting a Camden march deep inside Tornado territory, the latter essentially sealing the game with less than three minutes to play. The unit also had a critical fourth-down stop inside its own 25.
Smith had a game-best 10 total tackles, while Craig had six solos among his eight total stops. Tayehari Jones had seven tackles and a forced fumble, Arnold and Littleton were credited with a half-dozen takedowns, and Hayden Kennedy came up with a fumble recovery.
Jones’ one-yard fourth-down TD run with 5:55 left after Simpson’s pick and long return sealed the win for UC.
“We still are going to run the football and be physical,” Markle concluded, when detailing his team’s different set on offense. “It (three-man I formation) gives our opponents something different to prepare for.
“In the end, though, we’re still going to play Union City football.”
The Tornadoes will celebrate Senior Night next week when they host Liberty Tech.
UNION CITY 20, CAMDEN 8
Union City 0 13 0 7 — 20
Camden 8 0 0 0 — 8
SCORING
C — Will Dobson 8 run (Dobson run) 7:56, 1st
UC — Jacob Arnold 64 run (Miguel Sanchez kick) 11:39, 2nd
UC — Kyrell Littleton 2 run (kick blocked) 0:00, 2nd
UC — Tayehari Jones 1 run (Sanchez kick) 5:55, 4th
UC C
Total Offense 260 202
Rush Att.-Yards 48-246 30-112
Comp.-Att.-Int 1-3-0 4-13-2
Passing Yards 14 90
First Downs 13 7
Punts-Avg. 2-36.0 2-19.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties-Yds. 9-81 9-83
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Union City — Jacob Arnold 21-185, Kyrell Littleton 12-36, Gage Smith 6-25, Jackson Chism 3-5, Tayehari Jones 4-5, Team 2-(-10). Camden — Tucker Jackson 7-56, Will Dobson 18-42, Karson Goodwin 1-38, Finn-Jenkins Moore 2-6, Chase Hisey 1-1.
PASSING: Union City — Jackson Chism 1-3-0 – 14. Camden — Will Dobson 4-13-2 – 90.
RECEIVING: Union City — Gage Smith 1-14. Camden — Tucker Jackson 3-52, Karson Goodwin 1-38.
RECORDS: Union City 6-2 (3-1) Camden 1-6 (1-2)
NEXT GAME: Union City hosts Liberty for Senior Night, Friday at 7 p.m.