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UL looks to bounce back at Magnolia

Photo/SANDI THOMPSON UNION LOCAL receiver Gannon Kerns makes a move against Harrison earlier this season. The Jets visit Magnolia on Friday.

NEW MARTINSVILLE – For four years Bernie Thompson has been busy turning the Union Local football program into a winner. And while the Jets began the season 4-0, all eyes now turn to if the Belmont County squad has the ability to rebound, coming off its poorest performance of the season in a loss to unbeaten Westinghouse last Friday night.

To do that Union Local will have to travel to Wetzel County Friday night to face off against a 1-2 record Magnolia squad that is also coming off a loss after coming off a two-week Covid break. The Jets dropped a 56-12 decision a week ago while Coach Dave “Doc” Chapman watched his Blue Eagles fall to Monroe Central by a 43-18 margin.

“Last week was tough but we knew what who they were, and I can tell you that was the fastest high school football team I have ever seen play,” Thompson admitted. “But the key for us now is how the kids respond, how they rebound and so far I have seen nothing that would say they won’t be ready to go this week.

“I can’t credit these kids enough for where we are right now and I am looking forward to getting them back on the field and attacking.”

Thompson’s squad has prided itself on a high-powered offense and a defense that was doing a good job holding up its end as well. However, Union Local allowed 563 total yards of offense to Westinghouse while being held to just 90.

Junior Hayden McCrate, who did have a 61-yard touchdown catch last week, leads the Jets’ rushing attack with nearly 800 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns through five games. Quarterback Carter Blake has thrown six scoring passes over the last three games but just the one a week ago while senior Caleb McWhorter, another key contributor, returned the opening kickoff 78 yards.

After taking a quick 6-0 lead Union Local scored its only other touchdown a short time later in the opening quarter.

“Union Local is a quality football team that is very well coached,” Chapman said. “They have some very good skill guys and there is no question that we are going to have our hands full. But we are practicing hard, and we will be ready for the challenge.

“I just can’t say enough about how Bernie and his coaching staff have that program heading in the right direction.”

Magnolia moved the ball well last week, finishing with 214 yards on the ground and 303 for the game, but the rust of being off for two weeks showed with five turnovers and nine penalties. Big Blue was intercepted three times and fumbled twice against the Seminoles. The Eagles’ defense did surrender 404 yards of offense.

“The staff never talked to the kids about being rusty or being behind after missing two weeks of practice and games,” Chapman said. “But once the game starters you could see the mistakes piling up. Poor exchanges on snaps really hurt us and killed some drives, but five turnovers and penalties at bad times also didn’t help out any.

“Our tackling needs to be better, and we will work on that and improve. It’s tough when you aren’t even allowed around your kids with the Covid stuff, but it is time for us to go piece together some wins and that starts this Friday. We know we will have to play very well to win this week, but that is what we are working towards.”

Senior quarterback Brendan Mirandy was nine of 16 for 89 yards and a score against Monroe Central, with the three picks, while sophomore Kaden Johnson ran for 112 yards on 19 carries with a score and senior Marcus Barnes added 52 on 10 tries with another touchdown. Johnson also had six catches for 42 yards while Bryden Vargo had two grabs for 36.

“They are very well coached and Dave and his staff do a great job with those kids,” Thompson added. “They are always very hard-nosed and they have a few players that we know we are going to have to account for every where on the field Friday night.”

Focus is another issue for Union Local, which will look to continue its playoff push but after Magnolia will finish the season with games against St. Clairsville, Bellaire and Barnesville, which currently have a combined record of 15-2.

“We are a little dinged up right now and we are going to have to have some younger kids step up for us this week, but we are totally focused on Magnolia, even though we are also well aware of what’s on the horizon,” Thompson commented. “We have been trying to change things here for the past few years and these are the kinds of opportunities we have been trying to set the kids up for.

“Honestly, we are very thankful and excited to be able to be playing in these types of football games. These are great opportunities and we understand that. It’s go time for us. The kids know that the next four weeks are going to make or break us. The goal coming into the season was to play well in the first half to set up things in the second half of the season, and we are 4-1 right now.

“We just need to keep doing things the right way and keep a positive attitude about what we are doing.”

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Chapman’s crew either with road games at Frontier, St. Marys and arch-rival Tyler Consolidated ahead of them.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since the mid-90s.

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