Union to face new challenge with bump up to Class 2A

By: Jonathan Bombulie

Saturday, August 17, 2024 | 6:01 AM

In an effort to cut down on travel time and promote natural rivalries, Union made the decision to voluntarily bump up to Class 2A this season.

Despite being the fifth-smallest public school playing football in the WPIAL, the Scotties are excited about the move.

“It’s much better than going to Springdale and having extra travel time,” coach Kim Niedbala said. “We kind of figured we’d be put into the MAC. It’s a 20-minute drive instead of an hour drive.”

The Scotties did not, however, pick the easiest year to step up in class.

That’s because they’ll have to replace star quarterback Braylon Thomas, a rare two-way force who threw for 2,000 yards and rushed for 1,000 yards last season.

“He was a dynamic player,” Niedbala said. “I’ve coached at plenty of different levels, and he’s one of the most dynamic players I’ve ever coached, so it’s definitely going to be a challenge, but like anything else, you have to move on.”

The Scotties will move on by turning quarterback duties over to senior Lucas Stanley, a basketball star who only came out for football for the first time last season.

Stanley is an outstanding all-around athlete who did get some snaps under center last season, so it’s possible the Scotties won’t have to rewrite their playbook too extensively.

“He’s a kid that’s played in WPIAL championships before,” Niedbala said. “You just hope that kind of leads into football.”

Beyond Stanley, Niedbala will lean on a small group of returning players for leadership and playmaking.

That starts with receiver Maddox Thompson, who returns after he started for Union’s WPIAL championship team in 2022 before transferring to neighboring New Castle for his junior year.

Jamel Mitchell looks to be the Scotties’ strongest two-way player, and he’ll be joined on the line by Daniel Mukaabya. Sophomore running back/linebacker Gianni Million will also be counted on.

Niedbala also expects contributions from junior lineman Damien Carbone, junior receiver Nick Cook and sophomore tight end Jordyn Kelly.

“I think offensive, defensive line-wise, we have some experience coming back,” Niedbala said. “Skill-wise, we’ll be completely revamped on both sides of the ball, other than Maddox coming back.”

Despite the relatively inexperienced lineup and jump up in class, expectations remain fairly high for the Scotties. The standard was set when Union won a WPIAL title and reached the state finals in Niedbala’s first season and wasn’t exactly lowered when the Scotties recorded nine victories, including a playoff win, last season.

“Every year, you have to adapt,” Niedbala said. “You have to put the students, the kids, in the right position. You have to play to your strengths.”

Union

Coach: Kim Niedbala

2023 record: 9-3, 5-1 in the Class A Big 7 Conference

All-time record: 380-500-26

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Burgettstown, 7

8.30 Neshannock, 7

9.6 at Washington, 7

9.13 at Riverside*, 7

9.20 Western Beaver*, 7

9.27 at Mohawk*, 7

10.4 Beaver Falls*, 7

10.11 Freedom*, 7

10.18 at Ellwood City*, 7

10.25 New Brighton*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Braylon Thomas*

135-219, 2,077 yards, 28 TDs

Rushing: Thomas*

181-1,201 yards, 22 TDS

Receiving: Dayne Johnke*

36-788, 15 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Union coach Kim Niedbala hasn’t coached in the Midwestern Athletic Conference before, but he’s hardly unfamiliar with its brand of football. He played at Blackhawk and lives in Beaver County and his father, Rich, coached 31 seasons at Western Beaver.

• Niedbala, a consensus All-American as a safety in 1996, was inducted into the Clarion sports hall of fame in 2014.

• Union will play three of its last four games at home.

• In addition to its 2022 title, Union also won a WPIAL championship in 1959.

Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at [email protected].

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