Unionville to continue playing to its strengths on football field
EAST MARLBOROUGH >> In the expanded and ever-improving Ches-Mont American, it’s becoming difficult to get to the top of the football standings, and even more challenging to stay there.
This is understood at Unionville, a league standard bearer. And head coach Pat Clark’s response is to continue to play his program’s traditional strengths: a stout defense and a tough, ground-based running attack.
“We have a standard, and we expect to be competitive year in and year out. It’s a byproduct of the culture, and we work to meet that level all of the time,” said Clark, who is entering his 18th season at the helm.
“Our division over the last five years has gotten so much more competitive. We’ve had some great battles with (West Chester) Rustin over the years. West Chester East won the league in 2019, and Kennett has been in the district playoffs multiple years in a row, plus they beat both us and Rustin the last time we faced them.”
The motto for 2021 – “New Name, Same Expectations” – sums it up pretty well for the Longhorns (formerly Indians). It should surprise no one that Unionville is expected to feature the latest in a long line of star running backs, who will operate behind a big offensive line. And on defense, nine starters are back from a year ago.
“We’ve put in a lot of work and we are ready to let it show on the field,” said senior Matt McCloskey, back for his second year as the starting quarterback.
“We just want to make sure to stay true to Unionville football roots. And the first thing is that it’s about putting the team above yourself.”
McCloskey can run and throw the football, but he’ll also be handing off to fellow senior Ethan Bennink, who packs 185 pound on his 6-foot frame.
“Ethan is the next in line of the really good running backs we’ve had,” Clark said. “He is physical, patient and runs downhill.
“And we expect a big senior year from (McCloskey). He is as capable with his feet as he is with his arm, and he is a competitor. I think we have the right guy to run the offense.”
The group up front creating space is anchored by senior tackle Jack Tuel (6-5, 279). Add senior twins Finn Muhly (6-0, 235) and Jack Muhly (6-0, 225), and junior Nate D’Angelo (6-3, 230) to the mix, and top it off with tight end Nate Holt (6-5, 240), and you have great size and experience.
“We have some big kids, but we’d like to develop an eight-nine player rotation with guys like (junior) Quinton Boyle, who we will plug in a lot of places,” Clark said.
“Offensively, we play to our strengths. We have some guys up front, our top runner is back, and (McCloskey) is back at quarterback. But we are still trying to figure out our offensive identity.”
Except for 6-2 senior wideout Luke Schriver, Unionville needs to find additional playmakers in the pass game. Holt is a big target, however, and has signed to play Division I football at Army. He went down in game two a year ago with a ruptured spleen.
“(Schriver) was real promising as a sophomore but only played one game last season,” Clark reported. “He is a big receiver and he can provide big plays. We are going to count on him to stretch the field.”
If backup runner Joe King (junior) develops as expected, that may free up Bennink to move to the edge or the slot on occasion to beef up the production at receiver.
“Ethan has good hands, so he can move around the formation,” Clark said. “One area we are still developing is who is going to be our next big-play guy after Bennink and Schriver.
Holt headlines a front on defense that will also feature Tuel and the Muhly brothers. All three linebackers – Ryan Knightley, Brendan D’Amico an Danny Dunphey – are also back.
“(Holt’s) work ethic and drive are as good as any kid that’s been here in my 18 years,” Clark said of his standout defensive end. “He’s got the physical tools, and if his mindset is good, he can be a very good defensive player in our league. I wouldn’t pick too many over Nate.”
In the secondary, Schriver is a three-year starter at safety and Bennink is back at one corner. The other projected starters – 6-2 senior Dave Hoffman and junior safety Tucker Opdahl – are promising.
“We have most of the guys returning, so with that experience we should take the most pride in our defense,” Holt said.
“We have experience on defense, but we have to produce,” Clark added.
“We always want to be stingy giving up points. We are a program that is comfortable playing a 17-14 game.”
The first month of the season will likely determine whether the Longhorns can contend for the division crown. The team was 3-1 in an abbreviated 2020, with the lone loss coming for Avon Grove, who is coming to Unionville for the ’21 season opener.
“We are going to have to be focused out of the gate,” Clark said. “We open against Avon Grove, who beat our brains in last season, then Rustin and West Chester East.”
