By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Nick Markle and Josh Keown each insisted they got what they wanted out of the third annual Purple and Gold Jamboree.
“We were challenged by a good, physical 3A football team, and we saw what we were capable of in some instances and what we still need to get better at in others,” claimed Markle, whose Union City high school squad was outscored 21-14 by host Covington Friday night in two 20-minute halves.
Keown, the first-year UC Middle School head coach whose team was coming off an emotional season-opening victory over Paris Inman three nights earlier, saw his team continue that momentum with a 16-6 triumph against Crestview in a 20-minute period.
“Our energy was good, our effort was good, and we built on what we did against Paris Inman instead of patting ourselves on the back,” Keown said after his team’s solid exhibition showing.
Both Tornado squads will play for keeps in their next outings – UCHS traveling to Murray to open its season on Friday, and the Middle School Tornadoes hosting Dyersburg on Thursday, hoping to improve to 2-0.
Union City got a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown from Cohen Simpson and a 65-yard score on a short pass from Troy Joslin to Andre Small in the varsity portion of the jamboree.
In between were a couple of nice drives that died in Charger territory, but also three turnovers – one on the Tornadoes’ first snap from scrimmage that allowed Covington to take an immediate lead.
Starting QB Zak Summers had a handful of big gainers on keepers and also connected with Joslin on a 26-yard catch-and-run.
The Twisters were unable to consistently stop Skylan Smith – last year’s Class 3A Mr. Football – however, as the host team mounted a pair of long TD marches.
Simpson and Grant Sinclair had five tackles apiece to pace the UC defense. DJ Evans was credited with four, and Tayehari Jones came up with an interception.
“Some of our younger guys are going to have to get up to speed defensively because they’re going to be in there, and we’re going to depend on them,” Markle added. “That’s what these types of outings are for – to put things on tape and then teach from that.
“And obviously, you just can’t turn the ball over like we did. We moved the ball really well at times, but then we killed ourselves at others with mistakes.”
The Middle School Tornadoes got a pair of long touchdown dashes from BJ Boyd and two-point conversion runs by BJ Marshall and Kinydee Taylor to build a lead before Crestview avoided the shutout with a late score.
Caden LeCornu sealed the win with three strong rushes on the Twisters’ final drive that moved the chains.
“I was proud of our kids’ maturity, to have just a day-and-a-half to prepare and then turn in such a good effort,” Keown added. “Our defense really rallied around the football and tackled well.
“We’ll enjoy this over the weekend, but we’ll get right back to work on Monday to get ready for a tough Dyersburg team.”