photo by: Kim North

Union Local’s Ryder Gainer (20) runs with the ball after taking a handoff from quarterback Colby Carpenter during a regular season game this year. The Jets travel to Nelsonville-York on Friday.

MORRISTOWN – Union Local’s playoff trip to Nelsonville-York will look familiar. It should, the Jets made it last year and came home with a victory.

Friday night 11th-seeded Union Local (8-3) will bus to Meigs County to meet the undefeated and third-ranked Buckeyes (10-0) on the artificial surface at Dave Boston Field. The Jets won 23-13 a year ago.

“They are very similar to last year,” Thompson said of the Buckeyes. “The kids that were sophomores and juniors are now juniors and seniors. They are 10-0 and they are a powerhouse. Watching them on film, they have very few flaws. They pride themselves on running the ball and they pride themselves on stopping the run. They have kids who work very hard, just like our kids do.

“Last year we had a couple big plays on the outside with Dre Saunders and Isaiah Tomolonis, who both graduated, so this year we need to find some of those plays from someone else,” Thompson noted.

Winning on the road has become commonplace for Union Local as the last two playoff victories have come away from Jets Stadium, including last week’s some-from-behind, 28-12, decision over No. 6 Columbus Africentric.

The Jets trailed 12-7 at the half before playing flawlessly in the second half.

“I don’t know if there was a whole lot of difference between the first half and the second last week,” Thompson said. “We knew we could physically take it to them and I think you saw the effects of that come into play in the second half. Some of our plays in the first half that went for 1 or 2 yards started going for 6 or 7 in the second half.

“We are true road warriors,” Thompson stressed. “We are in rare territory for Union Local football. This is only our third time in the second round in 50-plus years. Our kids won’t be intimidated. We’ve already gone down there and won in the playoffs. We’re familiar with the trip and the atmosphere.

“We also understand that it’s a new year. I think they are more physical than they were last year, but I think we are too. We will have our hands ful, but the kids are ready to accept the challenge.”l

Junior tailback Brody Perzanowski did most of the damage against the Nubians as his career-high 38 carries resulted in 179 yards and three touchdowns. He continues to add to his all-time rushing and career rushing touchdown records.

“Everything starts up front. Our line did a phenomenal job of setting the tone,” the head coach praised of the trenchmen which include Konnor Kovacs (LT), Jameson Bable (LG), Logan Webb (C), Johnny Hercules (RG) and Brady Hunt (RT), along with tight ends Max Duncan and Landon Beadling.

“We might not be the prettiest offense, but you have to do what works and we’ve been pretty successful running the ball,” Thompson added. “Our three backs are great blockers, as well. I think they take more pride in their blocking than they do running with the ball.”

After a 1-2 start, Thompson said the team and coaching staff did some soul-searching.

“We had no identity so we changed things going into week 4 on how we wanted to look and it has worked.”

It certainly has as Union Local has run off six straight wins and seven in their last eight regular-season contests. The lone setback coming to Barnesville in week 10.

“Our defense played lights-out. They were phenomenal against an (NCAA) Division I athlete (Cincinnati) and another kid going to Youngstown State,” Thompson said.. “I thought we did a really good job of holding those two in check for the most part.”

The Jets rock-solid defense consists of Brody Kerns and Kolten Snyder at the ends, with JD Kovacs and Konnor Kovacs at the tackles. The linebackers are Levi Lucas, Gunnar Bethel and Perzanowski. Bethel leads the team in tackles.

According to Thompson, the secondary came up big last week as Eli Rogers and Blake Butkus logged interceptions.

“We’re only allowing 13 points a game,” Thompson pointed out. “That’s not bad for having to replace eight starters. Not many people thought our defense would be this good.”