Over the past decade, Union County football has been defined by names like Mancuso and Wright or Gowder and Owenby – skill position players known for lighting up scoreboards across North Georgia.
While the Panthers have had their fair share of defensive studs over the years, the offense has been grabbing the headlines, and deservedly so.
From 2013-2017, the Union County offense was setting records on what seemed like a weekly basis. Almost every Friday night a passing record, a touchdown record or a scoring record of some kind was going down. And in the era of quick-strike, no-huddle spread offenses, where time of possession has become an antiquated statistic, high school defenses aren’t asked to win ball games. Make enough stops so your offense can outscore the opposition. That’s about it.
That’s why, here in mid-September, it warms my heart to discuss defense for a change. Yes, Pierson Allison’s offense is putting up a ton of points as expected. But it’s not out of necessity.
During the Panthers’ 3-0 start, the D has allowed 20 total points — the lowest since 1985. And like the buildup for the previous two games, the narrative going into Monticello centers around Union County facing its toughest test of the season, thus far.
The same could also be said for the upcoming two games. Union hosts Putnam County next week before traveling to the Granite Bowl in Elberton on Sept. 28.
As for how these Panthers stack up statistically against some of the elite defenses in Union County history — the 2018 unit is tied for the sixth-best scoring defense in school history. So far.
Here’s a look at where Union ranks through three games and how other Panther defenses fared over the first three, four, five games and beyond. As you can see, some maintained their defensive prowess throughout the year — see 1974 and 1983 — while others, for a multitude of reasons, were unable to match the early season success.
POINTS ALLOWED THROUGH 3 GAMES:
1) 1974 – 6 points (West Fannin W 12-6; Lumpkin W 36-0; White W 14-0)
All-State defensive players: LB Phil Kelley
Coach: Mickey Birchfield
Game 4 Result: Buford L 14-6 (UC ranked 3rd)
Game 5 Result: East Fannin W 35-0 (UC ranked 10th)
Final record/total points allowed (Avg): 9-1 / 60 points (6.0)
2)1963 – 9 points (North Gwinnett W 32-0; White L 9-7; East Fannin W 26-0)
All-State defensive players: Linemen Terry Rogers & Gary Hill
Coach: Bobby Franks
Game 4 Result: Johnson-Gainesville L 39-6
Game 5 Result: Copper Basin, TN T 6-6
Final record/total points allowed (Avg): 4-4-1 / 141 points (15.7)
3) 1977 – 12 points (Andrews, NC W 12-0; Lumpkin T 6-6; White W 12-6)
All-State defensive players: N/A
Coach: Mickey Birchfield
Game 4 Result: Dawson W 41-0
Game 5 Result: #3 Buford L 34-0
Final record/total points allowed (Avg): 6-3-1 / 84 points (8.4)
4) 1980 – 13 points (Andrews W 29-0; Murphy W 14-6; Hayesville W 12-7)
All-State defensive players: N/A
Coach: Terry Rogers
Game 4 Result: #7 Buford L 27-0
Game 5 Result: Pickens W 27-8
Final record/total points allowed (Avg): 4-5 / 132 points (14.7)
5) 1983 – 14 points (Andrews W 42-0; Murphy W 22-0; Hayesville W 35-14)
All-State defensive players: DL Brian Allison & LB Mike Kiernan
Coach: Terry Rogers
Game 4 Result: Cherokee, NC W 36-0
Game 5 Result: Pickens W 41-0
Final record/ total points allowed (Avg): 9-1 / 60 points (6.0)*
6-T) 1985 – 20 points (Shiloh W 48-0; Murphy, NC W 21-13; Rabun W 27-7)
All-State defensive players: N/A
Coach: Terry Rogers
Game 4 Result: Gilmer W 28-9 (UC was ranked 6th)
Game 5 Result: White W 21-14 (UC was ranked 5th)
Final record/total points allowed (Avg): 8-2 / 121 points (12.1)
6-T) 2018 – 20 points…
…to be continued.
* The 1983 team finished 9-2 following a 32-0 loss in the state playoffs.
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