UCMS football earns third win of season

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UCMS football defeats Gilmer County

BLAIRSVILLE, GA – The Union County Middle School football team earned a third win Thursday, Sept. 19, taking down visiting Gilmer County, 33-6, in the first game back from a from a bye week.

The Panthers (3-1) were led by standout performances in all three phases of the game.

UCMS football defeats Gilmer County

Darren Patterson carries the ball as Nolan Thompson (No. 5) prepares to block for the UCMS football team against Gilmer County on Thursday in Blairsville.

On offense, seventh-grade running back Darren Patterson and eighth-grade quarterback Cayden Tanner filled up the stat sheet.

Anchored by strong blocking along the offensive line, Patterson carried the ball 15 times for 133 yards. He scored the first touchdown of the game from 20 yards out with 1:41 to go in the first quarter to give the Panthers the 7-0 lead after a made extra-point.

Tanner also got help from his line. The strong blocking game up front allowed Tanner the time to complete eight passes for 78 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown strike to fellow eighth grader Jensen Goble. The touchdown pass to Goble gave the Panthers a 13-0 lead with 7:15 left in the first half, and accounted for one of Goble’s two catches on the night. The other was a 2-point conversion attempt in the third quarter.

The attempt was the result of Tanner capping a long drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak to push the score to 19-0. After Goble managed to haul in the 2-pointer near the visiting sideline, the Panthers led 21-0 with 5:26 left in the third.

UCMS football defeats Gilmer County

Cade Dockery looks to the sidelines while on defense for the UCMS football team against Gilmer County on Thursday in Blairsville.

Sixth grader Cade Dockery led the team in receiving, pulling in four catches for 41 yards.

The kickoff following Goble’s touchdown catch was returned for an 80-yard touchdown 15 seconds later in the quarter to give the Bobcats their only points of the game at 21-6 with 5:11 left in the quarter.

The return touchdown was quickly followed by another. Patterson caught the ensuing kickoff and went 75-yards for the touchdown to put the Panthers up 27-6 just 13 seconds after the first one.

The Panthers defense played even stingier than it had in the first half from then on, barely surrendering a few first downs before forcing punts the rest of the way.

The unit benefitted from strong unit play, both along the line and in the secondary. The Panthers had very few open-field, solo tackles, but they didn’t need them. The defense played together and most tackles involved multiple defenders.

UCMS football defeats Gilmer County

Nolan Thompson comes in after the snap while on defense for the UCMS football team Thursday in Blairsville

Gilmer County passes were defended very well on the outside by sixth grader Cade Dockery and eighth grader Zach Taylor. Tanner had a solid night at the safety/defensive back position, roaming around the secondary as needed.

In the linebacking corps, Patterson led the way. He forced a fumble and had a tackle for loss in the second quarter, while making or being in on tackles from sideline to sideline for most of the game.

On the night, the defense and special teams forced the Bobcats into six punts, recovered two fumbles, and scored one touchdown, while surrendering just six points.

The highlight of the night occurred with just 26 seconds left.

With first and goal from the 2-yard line, the Panthers dialed up a direct snap to seventh-grade lineman Bear Webster.

Webster’s hands proved true. He hauled in the snap and rumbled right, bouncing into the end zone between his tackle and guard and carrying three Gilmer County defenders with him to put the game to bed at 33-6.

Union County visits Dawson County next Thursday, Sept. 26., beginning at 5:30 p.m. The team has just one regular season game left after that, visiting Lumpkin County on Oct. 3.

The playoffs are scheduled for Oct. 10 and 17.

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