By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Somehow, some way, Union City managed to get “it” done.
The “it” was a 21st consecutive Homecoming victory and a 28th straight triumph over Halls.
UC weathered another devastating injury to a two-way starter, pairing just enough offense with a solid defensive effort to open Region 7-2A play with a 20-14 win over the Tigers at War Memorial Stadium on Friday.
Senior Birtie Jenkins was crowned 2025 Football Homecoming Queen during halftime ceremonies. Her court consisted of Senior Princesses Ca’Lae Ervin and Mattie Smith, Junior Princess Brylee Robinson, Sophomore Princess Cloe Norton, and Freshman Princess Rylan Ali Bondurant.
Alex Landeros kicked a pair of field goals, and the Tornadoes held Halls to just 120 total yards, turning away a last-ditch rally in the red zone with less than a minute to play to extend their long Homecoming success streak and mastery of the Tigers.
Cohen Wood (seven tackles, two for lost yards), and Deyton Buckley and Kaleb Wright (five stops apiece) led a Twister defensive unit that also got good secondary work from Khazarion Scates (two pass break-ups) and Rodney Jenkins (four tackles) while pitching a second-half shutout.
And the Twisters did “it” despite the loss of one of their best players – Andre Small – who left the contest after just two snaps due to a knee injury. Union City, which was already missing five two-way starters due to various ailments, also overcame 85 yards worth of penalties, including one that wiped away a long third-quarter TD run by Adrian Crawford.
“Something good finally happened to this bunch,” a drained UC head coach Nick Markle said afterward. “To lose one of our best guys and a key senior like Andre so early could’ve sent them in another direction.
“It was a testament to their will that they were able to do just enough to get it done. It was nothing but effort, I believe. They just found a way.”
Crawford was the centerpiece of the Union City offense, under center for the second straight game with starter Jack Theobald out due to a concussion suffered last week. Senior Kirben Thompson, who could return to the lineup next week after missing three games with a foot injury, took one snap when Crawford was forced out due to an equipment issue.
Crawford ran 25 times for 98 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown scamper late in the first half that gave the Tornadoes a 17-7 lead.
Jenkins also stepped up his game offensively with Small sidelined, rushing for 83 yards on 20 carries with a 25-yard TD sprint to open the scoring with less than a minute left in the opening frame.
Landeros hit from 23 and 27 yards after Twister drives stalled deep in Halls territory – the second of those 3-pointers coming with 1:53 to play and accounting for the game’s only points after the intermission.
“We just pieced things together,” Markle added. “Our guys are beat up right now, and I feel for them. We’re plugging in some people into places that they’ve never played before. And they might be out of position, but they’re giving us effort.
“It’s taking all of us, and that makes me proud. 1-0 in the region is what we needed to be, and here we are. We’ll move forward and try to play good defense and hold onto the football and see where that gets us next week.”
Union City, 2-3 overall, plays at unbeaten and state-ranked Trenton Peabody (5-0, 1-0) next Friday.
Union City 20, Halls 14
Halls 0 14 0 0 — 14
Union City 7 10 0 3 — 20
UC — Rodney Jenkins 25 run (Alex Landeros kick). 0:43, 1st
H — Ta’Miyon Gooch 6 run (Jackson Booker kick). 10:05, 2nd
UC — Landeros 23 field goal. 4:41, 2nd
UC — Adrian Crawford 49 run (Landeros kick). 2:57, 2nd
H — Gooch 1 run (Booker kick). 0:13, 2nd
UC — Landeros 27 field goal. 1:53, 4th
H UC
Total Offense 120 258
Rush Att.-Yards 20-75 54-208
Comp.-Att.-Int. 7-20-0 2-3-0
Passing yards 45 50
First Downs 11 15
Punts-Avg. 2-36.0 1-26
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-Yds. 6-59 9-85
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Halls — Easton Apperson 7-49, Ta’Miyon Gooch 8-17, Jeremiah Harris 3-8, Jackson Booker 2-1. Union City — Adrian Crawford 25-98, Rodney Jenkins 20-83, Logan Puckett 6-18, Andre Small 2-12, Team 1-(-3).
PASSING: Halls — Jackson Booker 7-20-0—45. Union City — Adrian Crawford 2-3-0—50.
RECEIVING: Halls — Khadon Piphus 3-26, Connor Hargett 1-20, Jeremiah Harris 1-13, Easton Apperson 1-6, Sawyer Tetleton 1-0. Union City — Khazarion Scates 1-28, Logan Puckett 1-22.
RECORDS: Halls 1-4 (0-1); Union City 2-3 (1-0)
NEXT GAME: UC plays at Trenton Peabody next Friday at 7 p.m.