By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
A trio of Union City High School football players has been selected to play in the SportsPlus West Tennessee High School All-Star game.
Defensive back/receiver Cohen Simpson, kicker Marcos Landeros, and running back/kick returner Tayehari Jones were chosen to represent the Golden Tornadoes in the 13th annual contest.
The three players helped UC to 10 wins and a third consecutive state quarterfinal berth in their respective senior seasons.
The game will be played at Crockett County High School on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
Simpson was arguably the Twisters’ best all-around player.
He led a surprisingly potent passing game with a team-high 24 receptions for 355 yards and nine touchdowns. Simpson caught two TD passes from quarterback Zak Summers in three different games, highlighted by a four-reception, 88-yard effort against Dresden in which he hauled in a pair of scoring tosses.
Overall, his 10 touchdowns ranked fourth on the team.
On defense, Simpson led Union City from his secondary post with three interceptions. He was fourth on the tackle chart with 58 total stops, including a half-dozen behind the line of scrimmage. Simpson also posted a team-high eight special teams tackles.
Landeros gave the Tornadoes a legitimate weapon on special teams.
He made 65-of-70 PATs and hit four field goals to finish with 77 total points – fourth on a team that finished with 511 for the season. Landeros’ longest field goal was a 41-yarder, and also connected on kicks of 40, 33, and 31 yards.
He was also an effective weapon on kickoffs, booting more than 20 into the endzone for touchbacks.
Jones’ versatility was on display in a variety of ways for Union City.
He led the Tornadoes in total points with 114, scoring TDs rushing, receiving, via kick return, and punt return as an electric special teams performer. In all, he had 19 TDs.
Jones finished second on the team in rushing with 863 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. He recorded three 100-yard rushing games, his best being a 221-yard effort against South Fulton. On six occasions, he scored two touchdowns in a game.
Jones had 15 tackles defensively as a part-time player.