By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
For the most part, Union City held its own against much larger level competition.
It was a challenge the Tornadoes will face regularly in the upcoming 2025 season.
“We need to play talent and size like this because it’s a good example of the teams we’ll see in our region, like the Milans, the Huntingdons, and the Trentons,” UC head coach Nick Markle said after his team scrimmaged Kentucky Class 6A McCracken County Friday night.
“We can’t play lower-level competition and then get baptized when we begin our league play.”
MC outscored the Twisters five-touchdowns-to-three in the session, putting up a pair of late scores via long passes on their final possession of the scrimmage. All five of the Mustangs’ TDs came via the pass.
Union City got a pair of long scoring runs from Adrian Crawford, covering 43 and 80 yards, and also dented the scoring column when Andre Small sprinted 45 yards to paydirt.
The Tornadoes threatened on their initial possession before being turned away inside the red zone after a couple of nice runs by quarterback Jack Theobald and a Theobald-to-Crawford completion.
“Offensively, we moved the ball well, but we had too many penalties and negative plays,” Markle continued. “On defense, we had some good plays, but we need to do a better job tackling and preventing the big play.
“We still have some guys who haven’t played a lot, and they have to get more honed in. They might be listed as juniors on the roster, but several of them are freshmen when it comes to playing time.”
Union City will get its final preseason work in next week in the fourth annual Purple and Gold Jamboree against Covington at War Memorial Stadium.
UC’s Middle School squad will battle Crestview at 6 p.m., before jayvee and varsity battles between the Tornadoes and Chargers.