T-L File Photo/SETH STASKEY
UNION LOCAL wide receiver Gannon Kerns has been one of the Jets top targets this season. He and the Jets will trek to New Concord to take on John Glenn on Friday in a Division IV playoff game.
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MORRISTOWN – Union Local’s season could best be described as “what if?” and a tale of two halves.
Head coach Bernie Thompson’s crew bolted to a 4-0 start despite losing 1,000-yard runner Jaksan Price to a leg injury in the season-opener. They then went 1-4 and lost defensive standout Dakota Hess to an off-field accident in the process.
However, the Jets (5-4) persevered and finished 13th in Division IV, Region 15. They will head west on I-70 Friday to meet No. 3 John Glenn (6-3) in the first round of the playoffs. The game will be played on the Muskies’ campus in New Concord as construction work continues at Muskingum University.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
“Overall, we’ve come a long way since I took over. We didn’t win a game the first year. We won two last year and we’re sitting at five now with a chance to win a playoff game.”
Union Local took down Monroe Central, Martins Ferry, Harrison Central and Shenandoah in reaching 4-0, but those teams were a combined 11-24. The back half of the schedule was 35-9, with six of those setbacks belonging to Magnolia. Westinghouse (Pa.) is 8-0 while St. Clairsville, Bellaire and Barnesville all had one loss.
“We knew the second half of our schedule was going to be very, very tough,” Thompson pointed out. “We had some tough breaks along the way, but the kids have responded to adversity really well.
“Now we have the opportunity to win a road playoff game for the first time in school history,” he continued.
Hayden McCrate took over for Price by carrying the ball 160 times for 1,087 yards. He had a pair of 200-yard outings and scored 10 touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 281 stripes and three additional TDs.
Price had amassed 126 yards on 14 carries and found the end zone three times before being injured.
Hess, the team leader in tackles, hasn’t been healthy an entire season.
“Those two were the heart and soul of our team to start the season,” Thompson said. “Jaksan was the heart and Dakota the soul. Those are two players you don’t replace. You just put someone in there to do their job and hope for the best.”
Quarterback Carter Blake has passed for 1,098 yards and 12 touchdowns on 65 of 145. He has, however, thrown 13 INTs and rushed for 192 yards and six scores.
His main target has been Gannon Kerns with 20 receptions for 292 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Caleb McWhorter has caught 17 passes for 238 yards and two TDs. Sawyer Moore has five catches and two TDs.
John Glenn started the season 0-2, but those losses were to perennial playoff powers Garaway and Bloom-Carroll, who combined for perfect 20-0 seasons. The other loss, in week 10, was to 8-1 Tri-Valley.
Key wins came over Sheridan and Meadowbrook, both of whom finished 8-2 and made the postseason.
“John Glenn is very good and very talented,” Thompson allowed. “They play a tough schedule and have athletes all over the field. We will have our hands full.”
Thompson is hoping his Jets can put together a 48-minute performance.
“I don’t think we’ve done that all season. We need to play well for all four quarters and be competitive.”
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