An historic season for the Union Co. High football team came to an end Thursday, Jan. 9, as the Panthers held the annual awards banquet at Antioch Baptist Church in Blairsville.

The team’s 15 seniors were recognized at the banquet, along with individual honors awarded for standout performances during the season.

The group of seniors were a part of 33 wins during their four-year career.

The 2019 Panthers set a school record for wins with 10 and won a state playoff game for the first time in school history by defeating South Atlanta 19-15 on Nov. 15 in Blairsville.

Head coach Brian Allison said he was also proud of the fact that the entire team of 50 players managed to have academic success with an average of 80 or above in school, including 34 players with averages of 90 or above.

Among other awards he received, senior quarterback Pierson Allison was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while junior Jonah Daniel was named the Offensive Back of the Year.

Allison finished the season with 2,954 yards passing and 28 touchdowns, while accounting for 413 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 51 carries.

Daniel led the team with 1,570 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.

The Iron Panther award went to senior offensive lineman Drake Groves, while junior Aaron Helton was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Junior kicker Mason McCombs was named the Special Teams Player of the Year after going 43-of-46 on point-after attempts and 4-of-5 on field goals with a long of 48 yards.

Seniors Kyle Morlock and Sawyer Drake were named Co-Wide Receivers of the Year.

Drake netted 1,253 yards and 10 touchdowns on 78 catches in 12 games, while Morlock had 591 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games played.

John Mancuso, a senior, was named the Defensive Player of the Year, while Defensive Back of the Year went to junior Kaston Hemphill.

Mancuso was the team leader in tackles with 117 (81 solo, 36 assists), and Hemphill tallied 78 tackles (52 solo, 26 assists).

Outside Linebacker of the Year was awarded to senior Noah Underwood, with fellow senior Sloan Sutton being named Inside Linebacker of the Year.

Sutton was second on the team with 104 total tackled (45 solo, 59 assists), while Underwood tallied 80 tackles (39 solo, 41 assists).

Defensive Lineman of the Year went to senior Nathaniel Ledford.

Junior Clayton Lester was the recipient of the team’s Academic Award.

Brian Allison also awarded the team’s Captain’s Awards to seniors Pierson Allison and Mancuso.

Pierson Allison, Daniel, Mancuso, Drake, Morlock, McCombs, Underwood, Cayden Rich, and Sutton were also recognized for being named the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week during the season.

 

Editor’s Note: TeamFYNSports would like to thank the sponsors for the Union Co. High football team’s 2019 season: Circuit World, Graphic Expressions, Day’s Chevrolet, Flash Media Group, Ingles, Pepsi, Nicholson Tire, Bill Potts Insurance, Downtown Pizza Company, and North Georgia Metals. Without their participation, our coverage and recognition of these student athletes would not have been possible.