First-year Union football coach Jacob Wren sees plenty of road blocks and obstacles when he looks at the Yellowjackets schedule this season.
Union went 6-5 last year, losing the last four games after a 6-1 start.
The Yellowjackets open the season with Choctaw Central, a team they pulled away to beat 42-21 last year and a team that Wren is familiar with.
“Choctaw was in our division at West Lauderdale last year,” Wren said. “We were concerned with the big quarterback. I notice when I got here that he wasn’t at quarterback when they played but obviously they figured it out that they were a better team with him at quarterback. He is a kid that is tough to stop him three yards a pop. They had some skill kids that can threaten you down the field. They have big kids up front who can plug gaps. I was impressed with Choctaw Central for my first time seeing them.”
Then the Yellowjackets will host the two-time defending Class 1A state champions in Nanih Waiya.
“We opened up with Nanih Waiya last year at West and I was very impressed with their football team,” Wren said. “They are well coached and you can tell they have the right kids in the right seat to be successful. They are a physical football team and I am glad we have a physical football team in our non-district schedule.”
The only new addition to the schedule is in week three when Union will host Class 1A McAdams.
“That was an open week for us last year,” Wren said. “I was going into this with no spring practice. I wanted to play as many games as possible before we got down to district. I didn’t want to have an open week there. Coach Nelson from McAdams called me and we filled that open date. He wanted to come down here and it worked out for both of us.”
Union will then hit the road for the first time in week four as they travel to Eupora.
“I just know that Eupora has been a strong program and has a lot of tradition,” Wren said. “I fully expect a different game from what I saw last year. I think Union thumped them pretty good last year but with the athletes they have and some new coaches, I expect a lot different game.”
In week five, Union will make the short trip down Highway 15 to take on county rival Newton County. Last year, Union beat Newton County 42-15 but the Cougars turned the season around and made it to the third round of the Class 4A playoffs.
“It’s going to be a physical game,” Wren said. “They have Carlois (Walker) back at running back and he’s a Division I running back. I think that week is a challenging week when you are dealing with athletes of that caliber. I think in total they have four kids that have been offered college scholarships. I think Coach Bass has done a good job with them in the last three years.”
The Jackets will then host East Webster in matchup of two of the state’s top 2A programs. East Webster went 11-2 last year and overcame a 20-0 deficit to beat Union 27-20 last year.
“Ron Price was at New Albany when I was at Olive Branch and I have always thought Ron was a class act guy,” Wren said. “They have a bunch of kids back and of course the quarterback is a 205-pound kid who is a chain mover. I know last year, Union jumped on them 20-0 so that tells me that they are going to hit us every play and because they are down 20-0 doesn’t mean they are out of it.”
Union will then begin Division 6-2A play as they host Newton.
“I know they have a good quarterback coming back,” Wren said. “They have a bunch of young kids and some people may chalk that up as a win. But I don’t chalk up as a win because they have really good athletes. They have a good head coach and I think with the experience they have on staff, they can get it right.”
After a road trip to Stringer, Union will head to Scott Central on Oct. 16.
“When I was at Olive Branch, we based our practices off of ‘Could we beat South Panola with this practice?’” Wren said. “And that’s something I have done here. Can we beat Scott Central with this practice? I think they rule the roost in our division. I don’t want to know if we are good enough to beat Newton County because that is just about bragging rights, I want to know are we practicing hard enough to beat Scott Central.”
Union will then host Lake on Oct. 23 for Senior night.
“I was impressed with Lake on film,” Wren said. “They were really good last year and really good at receiver. The quarterback can throw it and can make plays with his feet. They tackle well and play assignment football. They are a well-coached football team.”
Union will then finish the season with a trip to Harpole Stadium where the Tornadoes look to reload after going 12-2 last year before losing to Taylorsville in the third round of the Class 2A playoffs.
“I know they lost the QB and Tulu but they have the Calloway kid back and he’s a big-time recruit,” Wren said. "I think going into Philadelphia, I’m going to preach that we want to make our own way and not have to depend on anybody else. You hope that Philadelphia comes down to where we are in charge of it. They are full of athletes and you have to be one of those games where you have some 12-play drives. We have to bend but not break.”
