BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Union County High School football is still Union County High School football.
Despite the firing of Head Coach Andrew Thomas in late May, Interim Head Coach Lamar Waters said expectations haven’t changed for a program that set the bar high when it won three straight state championships in the 1990s.
“The mark of success has been high,” Waters said. “Our expectations are to win ball games, make the playoffs and make as deep a run as we can. That’s our ultimate goal.”
A team that began with approximately 20 players participating in summer workouts has increased its numbers to where practices have been consisting of almost 50. Waters said many players took on leadership roles in this transitional period for the Tigers and specifically mentioned nine who’ve been key in keeping the program moving forward: seniors Wyatt Elixson, C.J. Ivey, Alec McClellon and Parker Parrish and juniors Phoenix Bryant, Edward Durant, A.J. Rivera, Matthew Rogers and Drew Simmons.
“Those were all guys who kind of stepped up,” Waters said. “There were others, but those nine guys were a big part of that.”
When assessing what he believes will be the strengths of this year’s team, Waters began by mentioning the Tigers’ offensive line, which consists of such returning players as Bryant, Durant, Rivera and Rogers.
“Those guys have been there and have stepped up and done a great job,” Waters said.
The line also has such players as Parrish, whom Waters said can be moved around to fill different positions, and Keegan Shuler, a senior who has returned after not playing a couple of seasons.
“He’s just a tough kid you can count on to be there,” Waters said of Shuler.
Senior Tyler Wallace is “another kid who’s stepped up,” Waters said, while sophomore Ramsey Schenck has worked “really hard” over the summer and has developed physically.
Cole Chapman, a junior transfer from Bradford, brings size at 6-3, 300-plus pounds, while senior Rhett Prevatt brings heart and tenacity.
“he’s not the biggest guy on the field, but he plays a lot bigger than what he is,” Waters said of Prevatt.
Many of the same players who will occupy positions on the offensive line will also do so on the defensive line.
“We don’t necessarily have a lot of great depth,” Waters said.
One of the tasks for the offensive line is to protect a new quarterback. Three players are in the mix: Jeffrey Brugh, a senior baseball player who’s in his first year on the football team, senior Cash Cox and freshman Cadenz Merriex.
“They all have a different skill set,” Waters said, noting that Brugh and Merriex are getting looks at multiple positions. Regarding Brugh, Waters said, “We’re moving him around, just finding ways to give him the ball,” while of Merriex, he said, “He has an opportunity to step in and play a big role for us.”
Of course, another job for the offensive line is to create holes for last year’s leading rusher: Simmons, who rushed for 1,400-plus yards.
“Obviously, everybody looks and sees Drew’s athletic ability,” Waters said, “but what’s probably underrated is the type of kid he is. He’s a young man who always has a smile on his face. He always has a positive attitude.”
Waters said Simmons also asks a lot of questions, adding that “he studies the game as much as anybody.”
Other players who’ll be in the mix in at running back/fullback include Brugh, Elixson, Ivey, McClellon, juniors Bryce Lawton and Jeremy Webb and freshman Zayden Williams. Ivey had the second most carries last year behind Simmons’ 161, rushing for 356 yards on 70 carries — a 5.1 yards-per-carry average. Elixson and McClellon had limited touches last year (14 and 16, respectively), but made the most of them as each averaged at least 6 yards per carry.
Contributors at wide receiver/tight end will include players such as Parrish, seniors Landon Cason, Mason Fassett and Erick Lasseter, junior J.J. Buie and sophomore Elijah Llanes as well as players who’ll be lining up at running back, too.
Simmons is the team’s returning leading receiver with 203 yards on 10 receptions.
“We feel like we’ve got some guys we can move around, depending on what package we’re in on offense,” Waters said.
On defense, the linebacking corps looks to feature players such as Elixson, Ivey, Lawton, Rogers, sophomore Kiptyn Shuler and freshman Brandon Marshall, while in the mix in the secondary are players like Brugh, Buie, McClellon, Merriex, Simmons, Webb, Williams and sophomore Tristan George.
The Tigers lost their top eight tacklers from last year. The returning leader is McClellon, who had 29 tackles to go along with one interception.
“He doesn’t come off the field, and he gives you everything he’s got,” Waters said of McClellon.
Union, which went 10-2 last season and advanced to the state semifinals, travels to play fellow Rural Class team Port St. Joe in a preseason kickoff classic on Friday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m.
The Tigers play their first official game on Friday, Aug. 22, when they host Class 3A Yulee at 7:30 p.m.
Though it was a bit of unexpected turmoil following the spring game, the Union program boasts a collection of players who, according to Waters, enjoy what they’re doing and work together so that the whole team benefits.
“They’ve got smiles on their faces. They’re positive with each other,” Waters said, adding, “When you see the older guys who may be considered our better ball players celebrate the success of the new guys who just started is pretty awesome.”
Click on the following for the Tigers’ full schedule: 2025 UCHS Schedule
