The Union County Patriots Football team played a great fifth game against Northview Academy Friday, September 25. Although they did not come out with a win, they definitely did not leave without having taken away something from this experience.

With Senior Night against Sullivan South coming up, the football team is hoping to come away with a win. In preparation for the next game they are treating it like any other game, with the singular focus of winning, and this upcoming game can change the rest of the season for the better.

About the previous games, quarterback Dalton Bradshaw says, “So far it has been up and down, although more down than ups. We’re just bits and pieces away from a winning game or at least making it competitive.”

He also says that with each game the team is improving. “Really what you hope for game by game is improvement.”

The team needs to work on being able to come right back after a touchdown from the opposing team and make a touchdown themselves, and really put the steam on their opponents.

COVID-19 has impacted the game in various ways this season. The limited number of fans has somewhat hindered games for UCHS Patriots. Bradshaw says, “Crowd involvement is big in football of any level.” The players use the noise of their home crowd to motivate them and pump up the game, but there has been a decrease in fans and subsequently, noise, which affects the way the players play.

Thankfully, the high school band has been a great contribution to the team. Where the crowd has been lacking, the band is taking up some of that slack and is creating noise, giving the players the momentum they need.

Bradshaw wants Union County to know that “even throughout this Covid scare we still need their support. We want to give back to them and we want them to know that the team is trying to give back and build on the tradition of Union County football.”

Remaining 2020 Season Football Schedule
10/2 Sullivan South @ home (Senior Night)
10/9 UCHS @ Elizabethton
10/16 bye
10/23 UCHS @ Sullivan Central
10/30 Grainger @ home
*Game against Greeneville that was cancelled due to Covid will be rescheduled.