By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–With team success comes individual accolades.
A 10-win state quarterfinal season for Union City has also produced a number of postseason honors for members of the Golden Tornado football team.
Eight UC players earned places on the All-Region 7-2A team. Coaches from the six-team league voted in the weighted process, with the most successful teams netting the most spots on the squad.
Three Tornadoes received superlative designation, including Co-Offensive Player of the Year Keaten Brown, Co-Lineman of the Year Hayden Kennedy, and Co-Kicker of the Year Finn Frankum.
Brown rushed for 1,137 yards and a team-high 20 touchdowns for a Tornado offense that averaged 37.9 points per game. Five times he ran for more than 100 yards in a game, and Brown rushed for two or more TDs in a contest on five occasions.
The junior signal-caller also threw for 249 yards and five scores.
Kennedy, a three-year senior starter and a three-time all-region pick, anchored a UC offensive line at center that produced 4,881 total yards of offense and put up 493 points. Behind Kennedy and his trench mates, the Twisters averaged 8.1 yards per attempt in their triple-option rushing attack.
Frankum was a huge contributing member of the Union City offense after taking over the kicking duties at the beginning of his sophomore season.
He connected on 59-of-69 extra points and booted a field goal in each of the Tornadoes’ final two playoff games.
The three standouts were joined by five Purple and Gold All-Region picks – Gage Smith, Jacob Arnold, Kelan Roberson, Hayden Moon and Kolby Craig.
Smith shined at fullback and linebacker, leading the team in tackles for the third straight season with 111 this year. He had seven stops behind the line of scrimmage, five sacks, and one fumble recovery.
On offense, Smith – who was selected to the all-region team for a third straight year – was one of five Union City ball carriers to rush for more than 500 yards. He ended up with 578 yards and 11 touchdowns – his 66 points ranking him third on the team. Smith’s two best rushing games were 103 yards vs. Lake County in the season opener and 114 yards against Freedom Prep in the playoffs.
Arnold, meanwhile, was UC’s top rusher with 1,237 yards this year. His best effort came in the Twisters’ opener when he gained 227 yards and scored four times on just 10 carries in a romp over Lake County. Arnold, a repeat all-region performer, averaged 9.2 yards per carry and scored 12 times in all.
From his secondary post on defense, he was No. 2 on the Tornado tackle chart with 71 stops. Arnold recorded a team-high three interceptions, had seven tackles for lost yards, a pair of sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Craig ran for 525 yards and four TDs from his slot position in the Tornadoes’ triple-option attack. His best outing came against Trinity Christian Academy when he totaled 136 yards on just 12 carries.
Defensively, he was a solid contributor to the UC secondary, ranking fourth on the team tackle chart with 40 takedowns.
Moon was also a member of the Tornadoes’ stellar offensive line and was second behind only Smith in sacks with four and had five tackles for lost yards. Often drawing extra blocking attention from his end post, he still had 34 tackles in all.
Roberson, a 6-4, 300-pound sophomore, showed great promise on both sides of the ball for UC. He was largely considered the team’s best interior defensive linemen and was part of a dominating up-front group on offense.
Kennedy, Smith, Moon and Craig will all participate in the 11th annual West Tennessee High School All Star Game Friday night on the campus of the University School of Jackson.
The contest will be livestreamed at YouTube.com/@froggy993 and/or at radionwtn.com.
7-2A All-Region Team
Union City
Gage Smith
Jacob Arnold
Kelan Robinson
Kolby Craig
Hayden Moon
Huntingdon
CJ Pelanero
Brady Warbritton
Ashton Hutcherson
Landon Gordon
Easton Byars
Austin Byrd
Westview
Craig Ross
Drew Shanklin
Omarion Harris
Nolan Pritchett
Hayden Smith
Christian Ingram
Britton Carver
Camden
Karson Goodwin
Isaac Moore
Will Dobson
Hayden Jennette
Gibson County
Jay Allen
Ethan Hutchison
Aiden Webb
Houston County
Tristen Hooper
Preston Mitchell
MVP – Quincy Hamilton, Westview
Offensive MVPs – Keaten Brown, Union City; Gray Eubanks, Huntingdon
Defensive MVP – Elijah Flowers, Huntingdon
Linemen of the Year – Hayden Kennedy, Union City; Micah Daniels, Westview
Kickers of the Year – Finn Frankum, Union City; Cason Totten, Westview
Coach of the Year – Eric Swenson, Huntingdon