TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week: Sloan Sutton, No. 6
Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Football October 5, 2019
Union County High School senior Sloan Sutton is pictured with mother, Jenni Dixon, after the Panthers’ big win against Elbert County on Friday night.
Union County High School senior Sloan Sutton is this week’s TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week!
Sutton anchors the Panthers’ defense as a middle linebacker and serves as the No. 2 running back for the team.
Friday night against Elbert County, Sutton’s name was said over the loudspeaker time and time again as he made play after play on defense, especially in the first half.
Sutton’s performance was even bigger than usual. The Panthers’ offense struggled early and relied on their defense to keep them in the game.
Sutton and the Panthers’ defense delivered, holding the visiting Blue Devils to just 14 points and forcing three turnovers.
For his strong performance anchoring the Union County defense in a big Region 8-AA victory, Sloan Sutton is the Player of the Week!
Undefeated Panthers put up historic numbers in win
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Football September 28, 2019
EATONTON, GA – Union County remained undefeated this season with a win on the road at Putnam County on Friday. The Panthers needed every bit of a historic night on offense to earn the 74-57 win.
Junior Mason McCombs looks for a defender after making a catch for Union County on the road at Putnam County on Friday. The catch turned into a 35-yard touchdown for McCombs and the Panthers, who needed all the points they could get in the high-scoring, 74-51, victory in Eatonton.
Despite the amount of points scored, two punts and turnovers decided the game as the Panthers defense stood up when it had to.
Union County (5-0, 2-0 Region 8-AA) put up the most points scored during head coach Brian Allison’s tenure, while surrendering the most since Week 6 of the 2017 season.
Allison was quick to focus on the end result after the win over the War Eagles (1-4, 0-2).
“We came here to win, and we did that. No matter what it looks like tomorrow, it’s still a win,” Allison said after the game.
He also rightfully praised his offense, which scored on 11 of 14 drives in the game.
“What a good night on offense; what a great job,” Allison said. “Play after play, we just kept making them.”
The Panthers had fantastic numbers on offense, with senior quarterback Pierson Allison accounting for eight touchdowns and junior running back Jonah Daniel for three.
Pierson Allison ended the night 23-for-34 in the air for 426 yards and six touchdowns, while netting two scores on 54 yards rushing.
Daniel had 239 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.
Senior wideout Sawyer Drake caught three touchdowns in a nine-catch, 146-yard performance, while fellow senior Kyle Morlock caught six passes for 161 yards and two scores.
Sawyer Drake hauls in a catch for Union County on Friday, Sept. 27. Drake caught three touchdowns for Union County (5-0, 2-0 Region 8-AA) in a high-scoring win on the road against Putnam County on Friday night. The senior reeled in nine catches for 146 yards as the Panthers beat the War Eagles 74-51 in Eatonton.
Despite the big numbers on offense, it turned out to be a few defensive plays the made the difference in a game that saw both offenses score on the majority of drives.
A pair of juniors came up big throughout the night for the Panthers, as Kaston Hemphill pulled in two interceptions and Clayton Lester picked off a pass and recovered a fumble.
Senior John Mancuso also played well, accounting for more than a dozen tackles on defense.
Union County managed to force punts on Putnam County’s third and seventh drives. Combined with the takeaways, it was enough to give the high-powered offense a chance to outscore the home team.
Brian Allison said, “We’ve got to make some corrections; we’ve got to tighten some things up,” in reference to the amount of points given up, but he was all praise for his football team for earning the tough region win on the road.
Through two region games, the undefeated Panthers currently sit in a four-way tie atop the Region 8-AA standings. Also undefeated in the region are Elbert, Banks, and Rabun counties.
Union County will host a region game with Elbert County (3-2, 2-0) on Friday, Oct. 4.
The Panthers managed to earn a close, 29-28, win against Elbert County last season in Elberton.
This is the second consecutive season that the two teams have been in the same region.
Elbert County defeated region opponent Social Circle (1-3, 0-2) 56-7 on Friday night
TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week – Kyle Morlock
TeamFYNSports, UCHS Football September 21, 2019
After catching six passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in Union County’s 53-21 victory over Monticello on Friday night in Blairsville, senior wideout Kyle Morlock is this week’s TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week.
Morlock has accounted for 352 yards receiving on 14 catches for four touchdowns this season, while providing solid blocking on the outside for the Panthers’ potent run game.
Panthers to host Blue Devils tonight in Region 8-AA clash
Featured Stories October 4, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA –The Panthers might have their hands full tonight as they try to remain undefeated when region-foe Elbert County visits Blairsville.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Union County (5-0, 2-0 Region 8-AA) comes in sporting a high-octane offense that is averaging nearly 54 points per game. The team may need every bit of that offensive power against Elbert County (3-2, 2-0), which brings to Blairsville a defense that is surrendering just 17.6 points per game.
As the two units face off, something will have to give for the Panthers and head coach Brian Allison.
On offense, Allison said Friday morning that the Panthers will have to make sure they are playing with good technique.
Union County High football head coach Brian Allison
“First, we’ve got to make sure we’re blocking low and are able to run the football; that will be the key for us,” Allison said.
The Panthers run a lot of single-back formations on offense with senior quarterback Pierson Allison in the shotgun. When they do run the ball, most runs are called options that require Allison to read the defense and either hand the ball off or pull it down and run.
Allison has carried the ball 25 times for 240 yards and five scores this season, while throwing for 1,553 yards, 18 touchdowns and a completion percentage of nearly 69 percent.
Allison has connected with two seniors and two juniors for nearly all his passes.
Seniors Kyle Morlock and Sawyer Drake have both caught six touchdowns through five games. Morlock has a team-high 528 yards on 21 catches, while Drake has 465 yards on a team-high 27 catches.
Junior running back Jonah Daniel has 122 yards on eight catches and two receiving touchdowns out of the backfield. He’s also the other half of the main option attack for the Panthers and leads the team in carries (71), rushing yards (798), and rushing touchdowns (10). Daniel has recorded at least 100 yards on the ground in four games this season.
Junior Mason McCombs rounds out the top four receivers on the team with 11 catches, 208 yards, and three touchdowns.
Despite the great numbers, it will take more than offense to earn the Panthers a win tonight.
Both of the visiting Blue Devils’ losses this season have been to teams from higher classes. The most recent was a 28-24 loss to Class AAAA’s undefeated North Oconee three weeks ago.
Elbert County has also been able to put points on the board through two region wins this season.
The Blue Devils’ first region game, at Oglethorpe County on Sept. 20, ended on a running clock with the score 64-0. The team followed that with a 56-7 domination of Social Circle last Friday in Elberton.
If the Panthers want to remain unbeaten in Region 8-AA, the defense is going to have to play better than it did a week ago in Eatonton.
The Panthers gave up 57 points to Putnam County last Friday, the most since 2017, and they are allowing opposing offenses to score more than 21 points per game.
Elbert County, much like Putnam County, is led by a dynamic running back/quarterback duo that will be the key to the game for the Panthers.
“They are both really good players, so we have to make sure we stop their run game and maybe generate a few turnovers,” Coach Allison said Friday. “We have to try to do what we do best and not try and change anything, other than to make sure we are making good tackles and that we are in good position on defense.”
The Union County defense is led by junior Clayton Lester with 39 tackles (22 solo). Junior Noah Underwood is right behind him with 38 tackles (19 solo) and senior Sloan Sutton has added 37 tackles (17 solo).
On offense, Sutton has also added 136 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown for the Panthers.
Panthers remain unbeaten, path to playoffs clear
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Football October 5, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – Back-to-back fumble recoveries proved to the be difference Friday night as Union County remained unbeaten this season with a 35-14 win against Elbert County in Blairsville.
Senior quarterback Pierson Allison (No. 17) celebrates with freshman Wilson Walker after an Allison touchdown pass put the Panthers on top 21-14.
With the win, the Panthers (6-0, 3-0 Region 8-AA) kept pace with Rabun County for the top spot in the division and made the path the state playoffs clearer.
“I don’t have enough words for how proud I am,” Union County coach Brian Allison said after the game. “Offense, defense, special teams; we won in all three phases tonight.”
Heading into Friday night’s game, the Union County offense had been the engine that drove the Panthers into a 5-0 start.
But it was the defense that stepped up against the visiting Blue Devils (3-3, 2-1), making timely tackles and forcing three turnovers.
Two of those turnovers occurred early in the fourth quarter with the game still up for grabs.
With the score tied at 14, Elbert County was looking to answer a Union County touchdown on the previous drive.
After starting the drive from their own 41, the Blue Devils quickly moved 20 yards down the field and looked to be turning their eyes toward the end zone.
Senior Sawyer Drake leaves an Elbert County defensive back on the turf as he scampers for a 28-yard touchdown catch for Union County on Friday night in Blairsville.
Instead, Elbert County’s Shaun Allen put the ball on the ground and Union County junior Kaston Hemphill scooped it up to give the Panthers a first down on their own 33.
Three straight running plays, including a 22-yard scamper from junior Jonah Daniel, led to a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Pierson Allison to senior Sawyer Drake to give the home team the lead 20-14.
Junior Mason McCombs hit one of his five made point-after attempts to put Union County on top 21-14.
The Panthers would continue to build that lead for the remainder of the game. Pierson Allison, form his defensive back position, recovered a fumble on the Blue Devils’ next drive.
Two plays later, he hit McCombs with a 35-yard touchdown pass to put Union County up 28-14 with 7:44 left in the game.
On the Blue Devils’ very first play from scrimmage on the next drive, junior Clayton Lester stepped in front of a pass for an interception for the defense’s third forced turnover of the night.
History repeated itself as Allison threw another touchdown pass two plays later, this one a 24-yard strike to Drake to secure the final score at 35-14.
Early in the first half, it looked like Union County might be in trouble.
The annual “Pink Out” game at Union County was Friday night and players and fans alike were in the spirit.
After losing the team’s receiving-yards leader, senior Kyle Morlock, to injury on the first play from scrimmage, the Union County offense appeared to be out-of-sync.
Sideline reports from the training staff said Morlock’s injury looked to be a broken right ankle.
The loss of Morlock had the offense scrambling to figure out who would step into his shoes in the receiving rotation.
“We lost one of our best players, and it slowed us down on offense,” Brian Allison said. “But we didn’t give up. We found weaknesses and we took advantage of them.”
The first four drives ended poorly for the Panthers, with two punts, a fumble lost, and an interception.
Union County held the annual “Pink Out” game Friday night, and the Panthers’ student section delivered.
But it was the interception thrown by Pierson Allison that seemed to galvanize the Panthers, who began to play with a different intensity and purpose from that point on.
The defense forced an Elbert County punt on the next drive, and the offense followed suit, marching 68 yards and into the end zone to tie the game at 7 with 49 seconds left in the first half.
The touchdown drive, capped by a beautiful 19-yard pass to senior Cayden Rich, was the first of five straight scoring drives for the Panthers.
But the defense receiving the majority of the praise on the night, especially from Drake.
“I thought our defense played great and really kept us in the game early,” Drake said after the game. “They forced three turnovers, and you really can’t ask for more than that.”
Drake finished the night with 208 yards and two scores on eight catches.
Allison went 15-for-23 for 327 yards and four scores in the air.
On the ground, Daniel led the team in rushing yards again with 67, including a 21-yard touchdown run near the end of the third that tied the game at 14-14.
The win allowed the Panthers to stay neck-in-neck with Rabun County at 3-0 in region play. They are followed by Elbert County and Banks County at 2-1.
All of Region 8-AA is off next week. The Panthers return to action Oct. 18 with a visit to Banks County for another big region matchup.
Panthers pound Hurricanes for fourth win of season
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Football September 21, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – The Panthers continued to pour on the points during a win Friday night at home in the Region 8-AA season opener.
With touchdowns coming on the ground and through the air, Union County High put up more than 50 points for the second time in the first four games, beating Monticello, 53-21, in Blairsville.
“Great job on offense and a great job on defense,” coach Brian Allison said after the game. “We are getting better every week.”
Junior running back Jonah Daniel celebrates after scoring a 31-yard rushing touchdown Friday night.
Opening the region schedule with a win is important if the Panthers want to return to the state playoffs a year after being put out in the first round.
“This was a region win with a little adversity at the front of it, which is good for us going forward,” Allison said. While the final score wasn’t close, the visitors did close within two scores early in the third quarter, but the Union County offense proved too potent and too quick for Monticello.
Union County (4-0, 1-0) was led by senior quarterback Pierson Allison, who accounted for six touchdowns in the Panthers’ big win.
Allison was 26-for-32 for 490 yards and four touchdowns in the air, while adding 44 yards and a touchdown on eleven carries.
The offensive line was anchored by senior center Drake Groves. Both the offensive and defensive lines were working at a loss Friday night as they had to operate without senior Wright Hogsed.
Hogsed went out during last week’s victory over Fannin County. He’s set to miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL ligament.
Senior Sawyer Drake dives into the end zone at the end of his 55-yard touchdown catch Friday night.
Friday night, the offensive line gave Allison plenty of time to spread the ball around to six different receivers, including senior Kyle Morlock.
Morlock had six catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, while blocking well on the outside. Morlock leads the team with 356 yards on 14 catches and four touchdowns receiving through the first four games this season.
Fellow senior Sawyer Drake also had a big night with 155 yards and a touchdown on seven catches for the Panthers, who scored on eight of their 10 possessions.
On defense, the Panthers forced six punts on a night in which they dominated for most of the game. The visiting Hurricanes managed to hit a few long plays for scores, but for the most part, the Union County defense was stingy throughout.
Juniors Noah Underwood and Clayton Lester each recorded 11 tackles for the Panthers. Senior John Mancuso added a sack and senior Zion Ross intercepted a late pass to lead the way for the defense.
Junior Jonah Daniel had another big night on the ground, carrying the ball 11 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.
The Union County offense benefitted from big plays, scoring passing touchdowns of 69, 55, 49, and 33 yards, and rushing touchdowns of 70 and 22 yards.
Union County will stay within the region for the remainder of the season. The Panthers hit the road next week, visiting Putnam County with the hope of beginning 2-0 in 8-AA.
The Panthers and the War Eagles are set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27, in Eatonton.
UCMS football earns third win of season
Sports, TeamFYNSports September 19, 2019
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.
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.
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.
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.