Union to lean on young players in 2nd season in Class 2A

By: John Phillips
Saturday, August 16, 2025 | 6:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

There is an old saying that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. And in the case of Kim Niedbala, his coaching legacy starts with his father Rich, who spent 31 years in charge at Western Beaver.

The road traveled for Kim was paved mostly in the college ranks, with stops in Glenville State, Clarion and Edinboro, all as an assistant. He worked under Bob Palko at both West Allegheny and later at Mt. Lebanon, winning a state title. That led to the job as head coach, and Nidebala is beginning year four at Union.

The Scotties’ first season playing up in Class 2A was a bit of an adjustment. The school had been quite successful in recent years playing in Class A, making multiple playoffs runs and winning the WPIAL title in 2022. Despite the travel involved over the years, making the move up a level and landing in the always tough MAC conference proved to be a hard transition Union, which finished 3-6 in 2024.

“This is the second year of the cycle. Who knows what will happen after this season ends?” Nidebala said. “The travel was harder when we played in A. It’s much easier to travel for road games (in 2A), with schools so close to us.”

The Scotties have a small class of seniors coming back in 2025, led by several skilled players including wide receiver Jaydon Townsell. Each is expected to contribute on both sides of the ball for Niedbala.

“We are very young, but I expect to lean on JT Townsell not just on the offensive side for us, but in our secondary.” said Niedbala. “Junior Gianni Million, who is a running back and linebacker for us, will be a contributor skill wise. Senior Damien Carbone will anchor our line play on both sides of the ball.”

Seniors Nick Cook and Jayley Gregory should see snaps at some of the skill positions on offense for Union. As far as who will be the starting quarterback in 2025, a camp competition between Jordyn Kelley and Zach Rich should yield that answer for Niedbala.

These are some of the challenges that face coaches in the smaller enrollment classes.

“I think you have to handle teams differently when you are at smaller schools,” Niedbala said. “You have to read the kids and adapt to them. When you have 60-70 kids or more, running scouts, versus having 30-40 kids doesn’t allow you to field a scout team. Those are the differences. Schematics.”

Smaller school districts also face the challenges of less revenue and support, simply based on the numbers they face.

“The community, the administration has been very supportive,” Niedbala said. “I’m also the AD. We all work together. We will graduate 37 kids for the entire class at Union. Since I’ve been here, we’ve won some titles in various sports like basketball and softball. You have to work together and harder than the bigger schools. It’s really a group effort.”

Niedbala has a very large underclassman group coming up, including 11 freshman and six sophomores. He expects a number of those players to contribute this season but was shy about naming names.

“When players are young like this, I don’t like to give out names and they don’t need to see their names in the paper just yet,” he said. “We have kids who will help us for sure in the freshman class, but I’m old school like that. The biggest thing is finding kids who want to play and can help. You will get things out of the kids, but you have to put time into them.”

Union

Coach: Kim Niedbala

2024 record: 3-6, 3-4 in Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference

All-time record: 383-506-26

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.29 at Neshannock, 7

9.5 Washington, 7

9.12 Riverside *, 7

9.19 at Western Beaver*, 7

9.26 Mohawk*, 7

10.3 at Beaver Falls*, 7

10.10 at Freedom*, 7

10.17 Ellwood City*, 7

10.25 at New Brighton*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Lucas Stanley*

59-129, 714 yards, 4 TDs

Rushing: Maddox Thompson*

138-656 yards, 6 TDs

Receiving: Thompson*

26-286 yards, TD

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• This is the 102nd season of football at Union, which started playing in 1924.

• The Scotties have one of their largest rosters in more than a decade with 37 players.

• Union is the fifth smallest public school in the WPIAL.

• The Scotties are playing their second season in Class 2A, having moved up in 2024.

• Union has won two WPIAL titles, the last coming in 2022. Union’s other WPIAL title came in 1959.

Tags: Union