52 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
CJ SOLTIS
SCHEDULE
Coach: Cedric Lloyd
2019 record: 0-10, 0-8
All-time record: 485-293-12
Date Opponent Time
9.25 at Ringgold 7
10.2 Thomas Jefferson 7
10.9 at Albert Gallatin 7
10.16 at West Mifflin 7
10.23 at Belle Vernon 7
FAST FACTS
• Uniontown has won two
WPIAL championships. The
Red Raiders defeated Butler,
14-7, in 1965. They also were
awarded the title in 1962. The
1965 team also was awarded
a state championship.
• The Red Raiders have won
seven conference titles, the
last being the Keystone Conference
crown in 2001.
• Since 2010, Uniontown’s record
is 13-81. The last winning
season was in 2009 when it
went 7-4 and won its second
playoff game, 21-20, against
Belle Vernon.
• Uniontown has had
10 former players play in the
NFL. That list includes Tory
Epps (1990-95), Chuck Muncie
(1976-84), Nelson Munsey
(1972-77), Tom Hull (1974-75)
and Harry Clarke (1940-48).
• Former Upper St. Clair coach
Jim Render, the winningest
coach in WPIAL history, spent
seven seasons as head coach
at Uniontown (1972-78), where
he compiled a 43-28-3 record.
The Red Raiders won the
Western Conference in his final
season and finished second to
Upper St. Clair in 1975 with
a 9-1 record, Render’s best at
the school.
UNIONTOWN READY
TO RIGHT THE SHIP
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
When the Uniontown Area School District
voted to cancel football and soccer seasons
this fall back on Aug. 4 because of the fear of
the coronavirus, football coach Cedric Lloyd
accepted the decision.
But athletes and parents did not and they
wanted the district to reconsider. The district
did last last month to the delight of Lloyd,
players, parents and fans.
Many thought missing an entire football
season would cripple the struggling program
for years.
Uniontown owns a 32-game losing streak and
is 3-55 over the past six seasons.
The last victory came Oct. 14, 2016, when the
Red Raiders defeated crosstown rival Laurel
Highlands, 27-10.
The last time Uniontown had a winning season
was in 2009 when it went 7-4 and defeated
Belle Vernon, 21-20, in the first round of the
WPIAL playoffs.
But Lloyd, who is beginning his fourth season
as coach, isn’t worried about the past. His focus
is on the future and trying to right the ship.
He’ll be doing it with a young group. There
are 22 freshmen and sophomores on the
34-player roster.
“I see the excitement and dedication in the
players since the board made the decision (last
month),” Lloyd said. “The key is giving these
players experience and the opportunity to
showcase their talents.”
Uniontown, which is scheduled to open the
season Sept. 25 at Ringgold, returns four starters
on offense and four on defense.
Back are sophomore quarterback CJ Soltis,
sophomore wide receiver Devin George, junior
lineman Christian Perkins and junior lineman
Zach Clark.
The defensive starters back are Perkins on
the line, George at safety, senior inside linebacker
Dakota Burkholder and sophomore
inside linebacker Braxton Swaney.
Soltis is back after splitting time with Torry
Robinson. Lloyd is eager to see how Soltis runs
the offense in his second season.
“Basically, I want to see improvement every
game,” Lloyd said. “I want him to get better and
be better at running the offense and leading his
teammates.”
George should be one of his top targets
because they’ve played together since middle
school.
Burkholder, who played wide receiver, will
move to the running back spot along with two
freshmen.
Senior wide receiver Josh Curry returns
after missing the 2019 season with a basketball
injury.
Also expected to see a lot of action is senior
running back/linebacker Blade Witt.
“Josh could be a difference maker,” Lloyd
said. “We’re excited that he’s back.”
Lloyd said since the original decision was
announced, he stayed in contact with the players.
He said a lot of them worked out on their
own and the plan once the students returned
to building was to get them in the weight room.
“We’re just happy that they are getting an
opportunity to play,” Lloyd said.
Uniontown will play an independent schedule
rather than competing in its WPIAL-assigned
Big Eight Conference, but it has kept scheduled
games with some of the teams.
“The schedule is a work in progress,” Lloyd
said.
COACH CEDRIC LLOYD
INDEPENDENT • UNIONTOWN