Union County looks for state title run after recent near-misses

Union County quarterback Trenton Klein (15) returns to the Tigers after passing for 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns and running for 501 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.
Union County quarterback Trenton Klein (15) returns to the Tigers after passing for 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns and running for 501 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.
Photo by C.J. Gish

Consistency has been the key for the Union County Tigers under coach Andrew Thomas.

In 2023, the Tigers finished 8-4 and advanced to the 1R region final round, where they lost a 17-14 heartbreaker at Madison County.

That came on the heels of a state semifinal appearance in 2022, when Union County made a long trip to the panhandle and was ousted by Northview (Bratt).

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Union County Tigers

2023 record: 8-4

2023 playoffs:  Lost at Madison County, 17-14, in 1R region final

Head coach: Andrew Thomas

Years as head coach: 5th season

Classification: Rural

Players to watch:

Trent Klein (QB/LB, Sr.)

Drew Simmons (RB/WR/KR, So.)

Gavin Jenkins (WR/CB/P, Sr.)

Bryan Tyson (QB/WR/DB, So.)

Ibn Williams (CB/WR, Sr.)

Key games:

Aug. 23 at Yulee
Sept. 13 at Baldwin

Sept. 20 vs. Fort White

Oct. 18 vs. Trinity Catholic (Ocala)

Nov. 1 at Chiefland

The 2023 season marked the seventh straight year the Tigers advanced to the postseason. Now as Union County enters its fifth season under Thomas, the next goal is a state championship in Lake Butler.

Thomas previously coached at Trenton, where he won two state titles, and Trinity Catholic (Ocala). He is disappointed about how the 2023 season ended but is proud of his team.

“We were leading up at Boot Hill with about six minutes to go and we had a turnover which shortened the field and they (Madison County) scored,” Thomas said. “I’m proud of what we were able to do. I felt like we were one of the top teams in 1R and we were right there and gave ourselves a chance. And that is one of the goals leading into this season, is to play for a state title.”

“We lost two games a year ago that we should have won,” Thomas added. “If we won them, it would have changed our season. One of the games was against a bigger school in Walton (DeFuniak Springs) and the other was against a private school from Orlando (Orlando Christian Prep). If we win both those games, we are probably home for the playoffs.”

Union County returns four starters on offense and six on defense from a year ago. Among the returnees on offense is senior quarterback Trenton Klein. Klein completed nearly 59 percent of his passes in 2023, throwing for 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Klein also rushed for 501 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, averaging nearly seven yards a carry.

Gavin Jenkins
Photo by Mikael Johnson Gavin Jenkins
Andrew Thomas
Photo by Mikael Johnson Andrew Thomas

Klein was the second leading rusher for the Tigers in 2023 behind running back Drew Simmons, A sophomore, Simmons ran for 512 yards on only 35 carries as a freshman, an average of 14.2 yards per rush and ran for seven touchdowns and three 100-yard games. Simmons should be the main ball carrier to make up for the graduation of running backs Ras Woodall and Thomas Williams.

“Our offensive line will be a little inexperienced, but I feel like they have a lot of potential, especially schematically. That’s where the most inexperience is right now,” Thomas said.

Connor Bresee
Photo by Mikael Johnson Connor Bresee
Maddox Wheeler
Photo by Mikael Johnson Maddox Wheeler

Also returning for Union County this fall is their leading receiver from a year ago in senior Gavin Jenkins. Jenkins caught 27 balls for 490 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 18 yards a catch. A couple of other key receivers return for the Tigers in senior Ibn Williams and sophomore Bryan Tyson.

Despite these guys returning, Thomas says this Union County team may not be able to overcome many injuries.

“We will have to have a few breaks as far as injuries go,” Thomas said. “We are a bit thinner than some of the teams I’ve had. We aren’t as deep, but despite that I think our 1’s (starters) can compete with anybody.”

Anthony Holmes
Photo by Mikael Johnson Anthony Holmes
Reece Hendricks
Photo by Mikael Johnson Reece Hendricks

The Tigers’ defense is led by Klein, who plays linebacker. He is the leading returning tackler from 2023, piling up 85 stops including 25 tackles for loss and seven sacks, which was second on the team.

Union County will have to replace Erich Seager, who led the Tigers with eight sacks a year ago. Jenkins will help in the secondary at the corner position after gathering four interceptions a year ago.

“We return five or six on defense depending on the package we are in,” Thomas said. “We’ve got a lot of shoes to fill. We’ve got a lot of guys that have played some big time games but we have some kids that it will be their first time.”

Ashton Newsom
Photo by Mikael Johnson Ashton Newsom

Class 1A became 1R the past two years, and now gives way to the Rural Classification. And Union County’s schedule once again is pretty challenging.

The Tigers only play two teams from the Rural Classification as they host Fort White and travel to Chiefland in the final game of the regular season.

Union County opens at Yulee, a 3A playoff team a year ago. The Tigers also have road contests at Keystone Heights, Baldwin, and Hudson. Union County welcomes Santa Fe, Paxon (Jacksonville), Zarephath Academy (Jacksonville), and Trinity Catholic along with Fort White to Lake Butler.

“It’s a tough region whenever you have a region with Madison County,” Thomas said. “Some things have changed for us with the new ranking system in 1A (Rural). Every game is going to matter. We’ll see how the MaxPreps stuff shakes out, but you need to win every game and see how you stack up and how it all plays out.”

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