TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 • 129
UNION • BIG 7
TYLER STAUB
Coach: Stacy Robinson
2019 record: 3-7, 2-5
All-time record: 351-484-26
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.12 at Shenango* 7
9.18 at Rochester* 7
9.25 Northgate* 7
10.2 at Cornell* 7
10.10 at OLSH* 7
10.16 Fort Cherry* 7
10.23 Burgettstown* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Tyler Benedict*
121-207, 1,536 yards, 15 TDs
Receiving Michael Flowers*
563 yards, 14 touchdowns
Rushing Flowers*
37-516 yards
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Union’s Stacy Robinson has
quietly become one of the
elder statesmen among WPIAL
coaches as he prepares for his
24th season. Robinson also is
the Union athletic director.
• The Scotties were a streaky
bunch last year. They lost
their first three games, then
won three in a row before
losing their final four games.
• Whoever is the new starting
quarterback will have some
big shoes to fill. Tyler Benedict
threw for a school record
1,536 yards, breaking the
previous record of 1,484 set in
1989 by Don Nogay.
• Union has missed the
playoff the last two years.
The Scotties beat Fort Cherry
in the 2017 Class A first
round, 30-21, before losing in
the quarterfinals to California,
43-19.
UNION BUILDING AROUND
STANDOUT GUARD
by DON REBEL
They have one of the top players in the
WPIAL, but will one dominant performer be
enough to help Union turn around and enjoy
success in the always competitive Big Seven
Conference in Class A?
The Scotties finished in fifth place in the
eight-team conference a year ago with an
overall record of 3-7.
“Our goal each year is to make the playoffs
and take our best shot if we get in,” Union
coach Stacy Robinson said. “By that standard,
we didn’t meet our goal, but we still
had many positives that we can hopefully
build on with the players that are returning.
“We lost some solid players on both sides
of the ball in Tyler Benedict and Michael
Flowers and Bryce Smith, but it’ll be time
for other players to step up.”
One of those players is Louisville recruit
Aaron Gunn. The 6-foot-3, 308-pound senior
guard was an all-conference and all-state
performer last year.
Gunn isn’t the only returning starter on
the line as senior Jake Vitale and brother
junior Nick Vitale are also back in the
trenches, which Robinson believes should
be a strength for his team.
“We have an experienced offensive line,
which isn’t something we’re used to lately,”
Robinson said. “Plus we have some people at
our skill positions that I’m eager to see step
up and take their turns.”
The team has six starters back on offense
and seven on defense.
Two starting seniors who were wide receivers
a year ago, Anthony Nealy and Ron
Holmes, should be in the mix to play a bigger
role on offense.
Junior Jackson Clark will take over as
the top running back. He was the Scotties’
fullback and tight end a year ago.
One major concern is at quarterback as the
search is on to replace Benedict under center.
“For the first time in quite a long time,
I’ll have to start a quarterback that has no
experience and no snaps at that position,”
Robinson said.
The three players in the mix for the starting
quarterback position are senior Anthony
Stanley, junior Tyler Staub and freshman
Braylen Thomas.
The battle cry for all smaller schools is
staying healthy. Robinson says that and
eliminating key mistakes would go a long
way toward a Union postseason run.
“We need to stay healthy for one thing, and
we need to be more consistent in all aspects
of the game on offense, defense and special
teams,” Robinson said. “Last year, we were
in just about every game we played, but a
breakdown somewhere hurt us eventually.
The breakdowns, for the most part, were
due to mental errors that could have been
avoided with the right focus.”
It will take focus and more in the tough
Big Seven. This year’s new look eight-team
conference includes the two Class A finalists
from 2018 in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
AARON GUNN
and Rochester, 2019 conference co-champ Cornell
and two-time 2A Three Rivers Conference
champion Burgettstown moving down.
Robinson admitted there are a lot of new faces
and tough programs on this year’s schedule.
“It seems Union and Rochester are the only
two remaining teams from the heyday of the
Big Seven in the 1990s and early 2000s,” he
said. “There’s a nice mix of old and new, which
makes the league exciting. One thing that will
not change is the fact that each week you must
prepare for a quality opponent.
“There are excellent coaches and excellent
players in the Big Seven, and that is what makes
it still one of best conferences in the state of
Pennsylvania.”