1A Championship Preview: Union Area

Tagged under: District 7, News, Playoffs

Phil Myers | December 7, 2022

Union Area Scotties (12-3)

Head Coach: Kim Niedbala

Starting Lineup:

OFF

2 Braylon Thomas 11 6’2” 180 QB

24 Mike Gunn 11 6’0” 175 RB

44 Mark Stanley 12 6’2” 250 RB

10 Elijah Booker 12 5’10” 150 WR

4 Matt Stanley 12 5’10” 180 WR

21 Dayne Johnke 11 6’1” 170 WR

7 Maddox Thompson 10 6’0” 175 WR

20 Kaden Fisher 12 6’4” 200 TE

70 Mike Thomas 12 6’2” 250 OL

54 Mason Benedict 12 5’10” 230 OL

53 Jamel Mitchell 10 6’2” 200 OL

78 Jordan Brown 11 6’2” 230 OL

66 Robert McCurdy 11 6’0” 195 OL

DEF

78 Jordan Brown DL

45 Mark Stanley DL

66 Robert McCurdy DL

70 Mike Thomas DL

5 Matt Stanley OLB

21 Kaden Fisher OLB

3 Braylon Thomas DB

25 Mike Gunn DB

22 Dayne Johnke DB

11 Elijah Booker DB

8 Maddox Thompson OLB

No one predicted this because no one saw this coming! The Union Scotties, who had not won a WPIAL (District 7) Championship since 1959 and hadn’t made an appearance in the WPIAL finals since 1973, not only won the district title, but won their semi-final game last week to launch themselves into a sort of football paradise, the PIAA Class A state title game. They were the first 10th seed to ever win a WPIAL title when they defeated top seeded Bishop Canevin who also was the state’s #2 Class A team at the time. Not having a let-down, last week the Scotties defeated a very good Port Allegany team to get to the big game.

This is the first year for Coach Kim Niedbala, who came over from Mt. Lebanon. With him he brought a winning attitude that has rubbed off on the players. Remember Mt. Lebo defeated the powerful St. Joes team last year to win the 6A championship. He has said getting to the state championship was the goal from the beginning. That change in attitude and culture adjustment turned a program that went 4-6 in 2021 and didn’t even make the WPIAL playoffs into a contender that is one game away from bringing home the gold to Union Area in New Castle.

The Scotties have won 6 in a row and have been playing their best football at the right time, late in the season. Quarterback Braylon Thomas is the star of the offense and is the Big 7 Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Thomas has 1,198 yards passing and 13 TDs. He has rushed for 1,475 yards and 20 total TDs. Matt Gunn leads the halfbacks with 555 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pass receptions and yardage is spread pretty evenly among 5 receivers, but the one who gets a bit more attention is Maddox Thompson with his 20 catches for 254 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Defensively, Union has stepped up their game in the playoffs. LB Kaden Fisher, DL Mark Stanley, and DB Dayne John made the Big 7 first team all-conference. Fisher also made the 1^st team on offense as the tight end. Only time will tell, but the Union Area Scotties have all the ingredients in place to make a huge splash in the championship game and surprise a few folks including Steelton-Highspire, their opponent.

How they got here:

2022 Schedule

OVERALL	PCT	LEAGUE	PCT	HOME	AWAY	STREAK
12-3	0.800	0-0	0.000	5-2	7-1	W6

DATE	OPPONENT	LOCATION	TIME/SCORE
08-26	vs. Canton (12-2)		L 18-31
09-02	vs. Ellwood City (2-8)		W 20-6
09-09	@ Cornell (4-5)		W 30-21
09-17	@ Shenango (2-8)		W 46-7
09-23	vs. Laurel (9-2)		L 22-28
09-30	vs. Springdale (0-10)		W 48-13
10-07	@ Rochester (7-5)		W 6-0
10-14	vs. Northgate (4-6)		W 46-20
10-21	@ South Side (11-2)		L 8-35
10-28	vs. Summit Academy (1-9)		W 44-8
11-04	@ Burgettstown (6-4) (P)		W 32-7
11-11	@ Laurel (9-2) (P)	Shenango HS	W 30-28
11-18	vs. Rochester (7-5) (SP)	Freedom HS	W 18-16
11-25	@ Bishop Canevin (12-2) (P)	Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA)	W 26-0
12-02	@ Port Allegany (12-2) (SP)	Clarion University	W 46-36
12-08	vs. Steelton-Highspire (13-1) (SP)	Chapman Field (Mechanicsburg)	1:00 pm