Union Bulldogs hit the road, looking to ground Eagles
Published 12:21 pm Friday, October 18, 2019
By Union Athletics
BARBOURVILLE — Union College football packs up and heads north to face host Cincinnati Christian University (Ohio) in another Mid-South Conference (MSC) Appalachian Division contest.
Union enters the contest 0-7 and 0-2 in divisional play, while Cincinnati Christian is 1-6 overall and 2-0 in the MSC Appalachian.
GAME DETAILS
Location — Cincinnati, Ohio
Stadium — Taft High School
Game time — 1:30 p.m.
Head-to-head matchup
BULLDOG NOTES
This is the third meeting between Union and Cincinnati Christian with Union leading the series 2-0. The Bulldogs have outscored the Eagles 98-7 in the series. The teams opened the season against each other in 2018 in Barbourville with Union winning 46-7.
Cincinnati Christian is coming off a 35-10 loss to Point University (Ga.), who is Union’s opponent on Oct. 26.
Jalen Echols continues to improve his running attack, collecting a season-high 81 yards last week against St. Andrews. He leads Union in rushing with 327 yards, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
Kendrick Furness has thrown for 1,044 yards and eight touchdowns on 92-of-186 passing.
Turnovers could play a factor as the Eagles have coughed the ball up 20 times (15 interceptions, five fumbles lost) in seven games and the Bulldogs 19 times (14 interceptions, five fumbles lost).
Cincinnati Christian averages 310.6 yards in total offense with 201.7 coming through the air. Derrick Taylor has thrown for 1,090 yards and five scores on 90-of-174 passing with seven interceptions.
Points could at a premium as the Eagles average 13.1 points per game with the Bulldogs posting 12.4.
Earl Wells continues to be the team’s leading receiver with 33 catches for 455 yards and six scores. Jay Brown is the Bulldogs’ top tackler with 56, while Cohen Perry is next with 37.
Tramonte Gardner is fourth on the team in tackles at 28 but leads Union with three interceptions, ranking him 13th in the NAIA. Demonte Bell owns 4.0 tackles for a loss to lead Union to go along with his 33 total stops.
Jamar Nuby paces Cincinnati Christian in rushing with 325 yards and three touchdowns. Adam Sanders is next in line at 176 and one score.
Cole Pelgen leads the Eagle defense with 50 total tackles with 7.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Dominic Valentino leads the team in tackles for a loss and sacks at 10.5 and 6.0, respectively.
The Eagle defense boasts 17.0 sacks on the year.