After a rough regular season last year, the Union Yellowjackets played some of their best football when it matter most, making the third round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Union coach Jordan Wren hopes that late-season run can carry over to the 2025 season. The Yellowjackets return a host of starters off of last year’s team that went 5-8 last year.
“I think for us is do the kids love it and do they want to get better every day,” Wren said. “We have a lot of kids with playing experience back this year. But we are also moving up to Class 3A. We have a new defensive coordinator who is doing some exciting things. We bring back a lot of experience on offensive as well. When you bring back a lot of kids, it creates a buzz in the community. But are they going to embrace doing the little things every day that makes better and helps you win games. Do they love the process? I think that’s the biggest things for this team.”
On offense, Myilan Moore returns at quarterback after leading the area in passing yards last year with 1,517 yards and 11 TDs while rushing for 782 yards on 121 carries. He will be backed up by Tyson Patrick and Tanner Watkins.
At running back, the Yellowjackets will have a “loaded backfield” that will feature Quinn Harris (165 carries, 857 yards), Koby Hutchins (17-199) and Ziel Burnside.
At wide receiver will be speedster Zie Buckley (37 catches, 548 yards) along with Dewayne Phillips, Moonie Harris and Semaj Burnside. At H-back will be Garrett Norton and Jake Goforth while Aiden Davis will like up at tight end.
On the offensive line, senior Jacob Freeman is at right tackle while junior powerlifter Jon Perry is at right guard. At center Brennan Hamm and Charleston Campbell are competing for the starting spot. At left guard is senior Will Chaney while Noah Bankston and Zander French are competing at right tackle.
“I think the biggest thing on offense is Zie Buckley is a lot better than he was last year, and we are looking forward to that,” Wren said. “Moonie Harris is 6-foot-3 and Kobe Hutchins is a tall target. We have a good group of skill guys and I think that will take a lot of pressure off of Myilan. He felt like he had to do everything last year. But his year, he is thinking more like a quarterback and that has helped his offensive production.
On defense, Wren said the Yellowjackets are switching to a 3-stack defense under new defensive coordinator Roderick Varner, a Sebastopol native who moved back to the area after helping Biggersville to the Class 1A state championship.
Up front Aiden Davis (82.5 tackles) and Ben Leach will be at the defensive ends while Aidan Easterling will be at nose guard. The inside linebackers are Deandre Kincaid, Jordan Smith (73.5 tackles) and William Breedlove (72.5 tackles). At outside linebacker is Ken Rogers and Jayden Gusman.
At cornerbacks will be Cameron Campbell and Chance Harmon while Zie Buckley (86 tackles) will be the safety with Levi Donald as his backup. Koby Hutchins and Coby Whittington will also get playing time in the secondary.
“I think the biggest thing is you can bend but you can’t break,” Wren said. “People are going to make some plays on you, but you have tackle them and make them line up again and make another player. I think we are going to be a little more aggressive. We have done some things that are interesting like working on turnovers in practice. I think that will be a big things for us and it has shown up in practice. We have done a lot more tackling drills and have worked a lot on proper angles and run fits. The 3-stack can be a defense to block. I think the biggest thing is we have to improve on our run fits.”
On special teams, Sawyer Robinson and Aiden Davis will do the placekicking. Dvis will also handle the punting while William Breedlove will be the longer snapper and Jack Flake will be the short snapper.
The Yellowjackets will compete in district play with St. Andrews, Pisgah and Southeast Lauderdale.
“It seems like everybody thinks we are going to finish four, which is the way I like it,” Wren said. “That means that everybody is overlooking us. But there are some new faces on there that we haven’t seen. Quitman should be the front runner and make the most noise in the district. I don’t know anything about Pisgah and St. Andrew’s. We played Southeast Lauderdale two years ago.”
Wren is assisted by Clay Pope (offensive line), Austin Davison (quarterbacks), roderick Varner (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Wade Pierce (defensive line), roderick Hawkins (outside linebackers) and Jay Cassel (defensive backs).
The Yellowjackets will open the regular season on Aug. 29 as they host long-time rival Philadelphia.
2025 Union High School Schedule
Aug. 29 Philadelphia
Sept. 5 at Scott Central
Sept.12 at Enterprise
Sept. 19 West Lauderdale
Sept. 26 at Lake
Oct. 3 at Quitman
Oct. 9 Clarkdale
Oct. 17 SE Lauderdale
Oct. 24 St. Andrew’s
Oct. 31 at Pisgah
Union High School Roster
0 Aidan Davis DE Sr.
1 Zie Buckley WR,DB Sr.
2 Moonie Harris Wr. So.
3 Quinn Harris SS, WR Jr.
4 Semaj Burnside RB Jr.
5 Koby Hutchins RB/DB Sr.
6 Jack Flake WR So.
7 Dewayne Phillips WR/DB So.
8 Myilan Moore QB, DB Sr.
9 Deandre Kincaid DL/LB Sr.
10 William Breedlove LB Jr.
11 Ken Rogers LB/HB Jr.
12 Aidan Easterling DL So.
13 Kyson Patrick QB Fr.
14 Camiron Campbell DB Sr.
17 Cody Whittington LB Sr.
18 Garrett Norton DB Sr.
20 KD Moore WR So.
21 Brody Smith LB So.
22 Tanner Watkins Wr. So.
24 Chance Harmon WR Sr.
25 Jayden Gusman LB/RB So.
28 Caden James LB Fr.
30 Jake Goforth HB Jr.
32 Levi Donald DB So.
33 Sawyer Robinson LB So.
34 Jaidan Mann LB Jr.
35 Nolan Smith DL So.
40 Ben Leach DL Jr.
41 Ziel Burnside RB Fr.
42 Eric James OL So.
44 Jordan Smith LB Sr.
48 Chris Wilson LB Fr.
50 Noah Bankston OL So.
51 Jacob Freeeman OG Sr.
52 Kapp Ward LB Fr.
53 Brady Milling OL So.
54 Luke Carnell OL Jr.
55 Jon Perry OT Jr.
56 Will Chaney OL Sr.
58 Hunter Watkins OL So.
60 Zander French OL Jr.
61 Jaxon Ladner OL Fr.
62 Brennan Hamm OT Jr.
63 Riley Goforth OL Fr.
64 Nick Brown LB Fr.
65 Najah Norris DL Fr.
70 Charleston Campbell OL/DL So.
71 Ben Parker DB Fr.
72 Braylen Adkins OL Fr.
74 Kayden Oakley OL Fr.
75 Mekel Maggit DL So.
78 Hayden Smith OL Sr.
80 Jackson Harrison DB Fr.
81 Luke Rush WR Fr.
82 Braden Boone WR Fr.
83 J.T. Cook WR So.
84 Jordan Hedrick So. So.
85 Jadarrian Pickens DB
Head coach: Jordan Wren
Last year: 5-8 (lost in the third round of class 2A playoffs to Northside 20-3)
Assistant coaches: Clay Pope (offensive line), Austin Davison (quarterbacks), Roderick Varner (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Wade Pierce (defensive line), Roderick Hawkins (outside linebackers), Jay Cassel (defensive backs)
Players to watch: Myilan Moore, Sr., QB; Zie Buckley, Sr., WR/DB; Quinn Harris, Sr., RB; Aiden Davis, Sr., TE/DE.
District: 5-3A (Southeast Lauderdale, St. Andrew’s, Pisgah, Quitman)
Three things to watch
1. The Yellowjackets have a new defensive coordinator in Roderick Varner, who is switching the Yellowjackets to a 3-stack scheme. If the Yellowjackets adjust quickly to his scheme, they could give opposing team fits this season.
2. After being forced into service last year, quarterback Myilan Moore struggled at times last year, despite leading the area in passing yards and interception. . Coach Jordan Wren says Moore is more confident heading into this season and he has a tall and lanky receiving group to throw the ball to. If Moore can cut down on the interceptions, the Yellowjackets could be dangerous on offense.
3. Coach Jordan Wren said senior receiver Zie Buckley, who is one of the fastest players in the state of Mississippi, is vastly improved over last year. If Buckley shows marked improvement and Moore does the same at quarterback, look for the senior to put up some big numbers this year.
