Union Local Seeks Measure Of Revenge Against Visiting Wheeling Central
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MORRISTOWN -- Last year, when Union Local visited Wheeling Central, it was a good one-- a 26-19 Maroon Knights win. This year, location is different, with UL playing host this time 'round, the day of the week is different, with a Thursday date instead of Friday, and the teams are different, as they are every year, but both teams expect another competitive bout.
"We played last year, so we have an identity of them and they have an identity of us," Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young said.
For Union Local (4-0), head coach Bernie Thompson is hoping that their early-season success can continue on into Thursday and beyond.
"I’m very proud of everyone’s effort up until this point," Thompson said. "We had a great summer and it’s transitioned into the first four weeks. I’m very proud of the coaching staff, very proud of our senior leaders, it starts with those guys. But we understand, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Our objective is to go out and play really hard against a really good Wheeling Central team, and that’ll close the book on the first half of the year. Again, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And that’s going to be our mindset."
Union Local is coming off a 49-7 drubbing of Harrison Central, while Wheeling Central (1-2) has suffered back-to-back two-point losses to Fort Frye and Ridgewood.
Throw the record out the window, Thompson says.
"Their record doesn’t indicate how talented they are," Thompson said. "They’re 1-2, but both their losses came to two really good teams and they were both by two points. I have all the respect in the world for Coach Young. In my opinion, he’s a coaching legend here in the Valley, and he’s got an elite program.
Wheeling Central, they’re tough, they’re physical. We played them last year and they got the better of us. They have a big couple big linemen, and for them it starts with their quarterback. Their quarterback is very versatile; he’s a dual threat."
That quarterback, senior Nico Kusic, has thrown for 343 yards and three touchdowns in his three outings, as well as rushing for 275 yards and five scores.
"He can run, he can throw, he can hurt you in many ways," Thompson said of Kusic. "We have to do a good job of containing him. They got some good athletes on the outside too. They’re a sound football team. They’re a team that can give you all kinds of issues. And again, they’re a team that beat us last year, and this is a game that we’ve had circled on our calendar for a long time."
Wheeling Central's lead back has been senior Drake commit Dustin Sanner, who's hustled his way to 242 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns, while senior Levi Rine has been the Maroon's leading receiver with 137 yards and two touchdowns.
As for Central's own gameplan against Union Local, it comes as no surprise that star running back Brody Perzanowski is at the top of the scouting report.
"They definitely have a stud back in Persynowski, and a pretty good line up in front of him," Young said. "We got to slow him down the best we can and take advantage of opportunities when we get the ball and put some points on the board."
Perzanowski has run wild through four games, averaging over 10 yards a carry to total 706 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns not even halfway through the Jets' season. He is around 800 yards away from the OVAC rushing record.
"Brody first and foremost is extremely talented," Thompson said. "He’s one of the hardest working young men I’ve ever been around. He earns everything that he gets.
"But, that’s not a priority. I think what’s a priority is just showing up each and every single day and working hard. And if you do that, good things happen. And Brody is the definition of that. He’s been playing ever since he was a freshman here and he shows up every single day. He puts in the work. And, what happens on Fridays, I don’t think anybody’s been shocked in our building."
Sophomore QB Evan Poziviak has provided a complementary passing game, throwing for 473 yards and six touchdowns in four games, while Eli Rogers has been his top target with 149 yards and a touchdown through the air.
"They can run it," Young said. "And because you have got to take Perzanowski away, can you also defend the pass? Because that’s an element, where you think if you take him out of the equation, they still have threats."
Thursday will be the first road game this season for Wheeling Central. The Maroon Knights could be without offensive lineman Cooper Jones, defensive back Will Wear and wingback Phil Zapp, though Young said Central could be getting a player back from injury this week as well in DB Joey Jerrome.
Wheeling Central holds the all-time edge vs. Union Local, 7-2, in a seldom-played series that dates back to 1981. The two teams played four times in the 80's, once in the 90's, twice in the 2000's, not once in the 2010's, and, after Thursday's game, three times in the 2020's.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Jets Stadium.