BLAIRSVILLE — Union County football is in rarified territory -- in fact, the past four seasons (and a 32-12 record in that time) represent the most successful in Panthers history.
You won't find Union County coach Brian Allison breaking his arm to pat himself on the back, however.
"We've been extremely blessed over the last five-six years to have good players roll through here; and it all boils down to players," Allison said. "We're coaching the kids as hard now as we did years ago when we first got here. The difference is the players."
In 2017, the Panthers still have several of those difference-makers on the roster.
That certainly includes quarterback Cole Wright, whose abilities in his first season as a starter at the position helped make 2016 a success after Union moved up a classification (from AA to AAA) and was replacing the most polished quarterback in program history in Joseph Mancuso. Wright excelled, passing for 1,852 yards, rushing for 1,450 and compiling 35 total touchdowns as the Panthers put up their second-highest point total in program history* and nabbed their fourth straight state berth.
On the eve of his senior campaign, Wright is set to continue his assault and will be aided by a veteran receiving corps with which he has developed an impressive chemistry. Kanon Hemphill, Logan Dyer and Austin Pattee should prove a headache for opposing secondaries, while running backs Chad Buzzard (junior) and Cole Dockery (senior) are set to step in and fill the shoes of graduated standout and leader Bo Lynch.
But Allison is not getting too carried away with the options at his disposal -- after all, the Panthers must still replace four of five starters on the offensive line.
"For us to be successful our offensive line has to come around," Allison said. "The guys last year were really good, and, typically, our line always does a good job of progressing as the season goes on, and we should be fine down the road. And the good thing is Cole can get us out of binds with his feet. He's a little more dynamic running than Joe was -- Joe could run too, but he'd run over you. Cole runs past guys. And any time you've got a trigger guy that can extend a series with his feet, that keeps you in any game."
The Panthers must replace experience on the defensive line as well, and Allison is curious to see how his linebacker corps performs after moving a pair of safeties up to play nearer the line of scrimmage. He also knows his defense will be tested in a rugged Region 7-AAA replete with talented quarterbacks.
"If we can stay healthy we can be solid; we've got no single great player (on defense), but there's talent there, and we're bigger and stronger than we have been on that side," Allison said. "I think we can compete, and I feel good about the work ethic and competitive nature of this group."
The last four seasons' worth of players have given Allison plenty of reason for optimisim.
*Courtesy Georgia High School Football Historians Association.org
UNION COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Panthers
- TEAM COLORS: Purple and Gold
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Brian Allison, 16th year total, 10th season in a row, 84-60
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 9-2, reached first round of Class AA playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: RB Bo Lynch, WR Slade Thompson, OL Dawson Groves, OL Blane Brown, OL Tyler McConnell, LB Luke Winkler, Saf Zach Stone, DE Chandler Day
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The Panthers' attack proved just as potent last season, replacing one mobile QB with another, as Cole Wright made an almost seamless transition from Joseph Mancuso. Union will continue to work the passing game, with Wright also a major running threat.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. QB Cole Wright (1,853 yards passing, 15 TDs, 5 INTs; 1,450 yards rushing, 20 TDs in 2016), Jr. WR Kanon Hemphill, Sr. WR Logan Dyer, Sr. WR Austin Pattee, Jr. OL Coleson Daniel, Jr. RB Chad Buzzard
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 50/3-4 -- Union County will do its best to stop the run first but will be inexperienced up front at the start of the season.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Sr. CB Sean Dobbins, Sr. DT Matthew Beise, Sr. LB RJ Banton, Sr. LB Cole Dockrey, Jr. DE William Lueckert
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Brian Smith, Sr. P RJ Banton
- STRENGTH: Quarterback/receivers -- Wright is a devastating force as a dual-threat, with the ability to extend plays with his legs until he can pick out a target or simply tucking the ball and taking off. And he has developed a great chemistry with a veteran and skilled pass-catching corps. To think that Wright was a question mark prior to 2016 -- due to his lack of playing time as a varsity QB -- now seems laughable.
- QUESTION: Lines of scrimmage -- The Panthers return just one starter on the offensive line in Daniel and will also blood several inexprienced faces on the defensive side. Allison's teams have always improved on the line as the season goes on, but they will definitely need to grow up in facing a rugged Region 7-AAA schedule.
- KEY GAMES: Union opens the schedule with a chance to build momentum against a Gilmer team that went 0-10 in 2016 and then against two North Carolina foes before a Sept. 15 showdown against Banks County in Blairsville that could tell the Panthers a lot about themselves heading into the 7-AAA portion of the schedule. Region play opens with a bang, as defending champ and power GAC treks into the mountains (Sept. 22). The Oct. 6 and 13 contests against Dawson County and North Hall (both playoff teams a year ago) may well hold the key to Union's playoff designs.
- TRENDING: The Panthers kept rolling in 2016. In fact, the '16 senior class one-upped the '15 class by becoming the winningest group in program history at 32-12 (2015's seniors graduated with 30 victories under their belt). An impressive transition from one of the best players in Union history (Mancuso) to another equally-impactful signal caller (Wright) helped the Panthers to a fourth-straight state playoff berth and raised expectations at a program that at one point went 11 seasons between state playoff berths (2002-2012). Allison says he and his coaches have been blessed by plenty of talent in recent campaigns, and it looks like there is still plenty on hand in Blairsville.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 at Gilmer
Sept. 1 at Hayesville, N.C.
Sept. 8 vs. Andrews, N.C.
Sept. 15 vs. Banks County
Sept. 22 vs. Greater Atlanta Christian*
Sept. 29 at East Hall*
Oct. 6 vs. Dawson County*
Oct. 13 at North Hall*
Oct. 27 vs. Fannin County*
Nov. 3 at Lumpkin County*
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
