When Union football coach and athletics director Brad Breland was making out the football schedule for the upcoming two-year stretch, he was looking for two things.
To begin with, Breland was looking for quality opponents to test his team that will return a majority of starters this season. And secondly, he was looking for teams that will bring a crowd with them. It looks like Breland got both.
The Yellowjackets will play two Class 4A schools, two traditional 2A powers and the defending Class 1A state champion. And then there’s the Division 4-2A schedule that features defending 2A champion Scott Central along with Philadelphia, Lake and Newton.
“There are no cupcakes on this schedule,” Breland said. “Our non-district is really tough. We play two 4A schools and two 2A powers. We play the 1A state champion and the 2A state champion. Our district is as good as any. All four of our teams won in the first round of the playoffs last year.
The Yellowjackets open the season at Choctaw Central, a team they beat 43-35 in the season opener.
“I would think they would be better,” Breland said. “I know they have been working hard. They are always really big up front. Coach (Pepper) Posey knows what he’s doing and they should be better with an entire offseason with him.”
Union will then take on another set of Warriors as they travel to defending 1A champion Nanih Waiya on Aug. 24. Last year the Warriors beat Union 42-0.
“They put it on us the last couple of years,” Breland said. “We had a pretty good run on them until the last couple of years. I know they lost the big lineman but have most of their skill players back. I expect it to be tough.”
The Yellowjackets will then have a bye on week 3 before they host Eupora on Sept. 13.
“I’m OK with the open date, it’s not a big deal,” Breland said. “I would like to fill it and have another home game but don’t want to travel a long way. I’m excited about the Eupora game. I think they are really similar to us. They were pretty good last year so I think we can compete with them.”
The Yellowjackets will then host in-county rival Newton County on Sept. 20. Last year, the Yellowjackets scored late to take a 41-38 win over the Cougars in Decatur.
“That’s always a good game between us,” Breland said. “I’m a little worried because the visiting team has won the last four games since we renewed the series. I know they were really young last year and should be better in Coach Bass’ second year.”
Union will close out its non-district with a Sept. 27 trip to East Webster, another playoff team from last year.
“That’s another game I’m really excited about,” Breland said. “Like Eupora, I think they are real similar to us. It’s somewhere new that we are playing and that will be fun and I feel like they will travel well.”
The Yellowjackets will open Division 5-2A play on Oct. 4 as they travel to Newton, a team they only beat 34-27 last year.
“They are another team that I feel like would be better as well,” Breland said. “They played us really hard last year and they will always have athletes. It’s always going to be tough down there.”
After Newton, Union will play one last non-district contests as they host Stringer on Thursday, Oct. 10.
“I don’t know much about them as far as what they have coming back,” Breland said. “I know they have been one of the strong 2A teams and had some really good athletes.”
The Yellowjackets will then finish the season with a rigorous three-game stretch that will determine any possible playoff seeding.
The first is an Oct. 18 matchup with defending 2A champion Scott Central.
“They lost about 10-12 kids and four or five of those were really good,” Breland said. “They are still going to be talented but that’s a game we should have a chance at being competitive in.”
Union will then travel to Lake for an Oct. 25 date with the Hornets, a team they beat 28-7 last year.
“That will be a big matchup,” Breland said. “Lake is a local rival and both communities really get into it. We compete hard agains each other and it will be a big game for both of us. Whoever loses that game will have a had time hosting a playoff game.”
Union will then end the regular season with a Nov. 1 contest against Philadelphia.
“I think they are expecting to be really good again,” Breland said. “They think this could be one of their better teams and have really good skill people.”
