Pre-season production
Union shows promise in scrimmage
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Sophomore fullback Blake Gowder crosses the goal line, dragging a Gilmer Bobcat defender behind him. Gowder's touchdown was the Panthers second of the first half.

How much difference does one year make?

When it comes to the Panthers varsity football team, the consensus seems to be that it has made a big difference.

The team looked strong in its opening scrimmage game against Gilmer County, as Union even boasted a lead over its AAA opponent at one point in the game.

Panthers Head Coach Todd Peugh said that the team's attitude at halftime was far different from what it has been at times in the past.

"Confidence wise, I think kids are starting to believe that they can be a lot better than they have been in the past," Coach Peugh said. "To get it turned around in any program, the kids have got to believe they can win. I think we can be much improved and a lot more competitive."

Coach Peugh said he feels that both the offensive and defensive lines played well. On the offensive side of the ball, the line protected sophomore quarterback Kolt Owenby well, as the coach said that he was really only took one strong hit. The line allowed him time to make his throws on most plays.

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Quarterback Kolt Owenby unloads the pass before the defender can reach him.

"It was a scrimmage, but from a coach's standpoint, there were a lot of positives to build on," Coach Peugh said. "Offensively I thought Kolt did a really good job for the first time of being in [this] offense."

According to the coach, the mistakes the Panthers did make should not be that hard to fix. "Most of the things I saw on film that we didn't do well are correctable," Coach Peugh said. "We have a chance to be really good on defense if we do what we are taught to do."

The Panthers only used roughly eight different plays during the scrimmage. The plan is to add and subtract plays as times goes on.

"We just felt like that was our base plan and we'll try to improve on it," Coach Peugh said. "Personnel wise, we'll just figure out what is best for us."

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam The Panthers forced this fumble early in the game. The Bobcats recovered near their own goal line, but were forced to punt from their own end zone.

Like last year, the Panthers begin the season with an off-week this Friday, August 31. Their first matchup will be a home game against the Towns County Indians on Friday, September 7.

The team hopes to start out the season the same way it did last year, with a victory over the Indians. Unlike last year, they hope the wins don't stop there.

"They're a good group of kids and a good group of players," Coach Peugh said. "I just hope they have some success for their hard work. [They] deserve some good things."