SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — After starting the year with back-to-back losses, the Union football team has started to find a rhythm.
The Garnet Chargers picked up a third straight victory last weekend, taking down Buffalo State, 28-6, and improving their record to 3-2.
Union is above .500 now for the first time in two seasons, and has already matched its win total from a year ago. The team will ride its three-game win streak into a huge home matchup with the defending Liberty League champion, Hobart, Saturday.
At just 1-4, it’s been a struggle for Hobart thus far in the season. But that record is a bit misleading. Three of the Statemen’s four losses have been decided by one possession.
Hobart is still one of the more talented teams the Liberty League has to offer, equipped with last year’s conference player of the year, running back E.J. Taylor. So, this will be an opportunity for the Garnet Chargers to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the league.
“Facing an opponent of their caliber is always going to be an opportunity for a statement,” said senior quarterback Patch Flanagan. “I think we’re just gonna focus on what we can control, and hopefully show the rest of the league what we’re made of.”
Union head coach Jon Drach believes this is a statement game. However, he considers each game a chance to make a statement, and a chance for his squad to establish its identity further.
“This week is another statement…just as much as last week was a statement,” said Drach. “[It’s] another opportunity for us to set our brand of football, what type of football team we’re going to be and really set the tone for what we’re gonna be as we go [through] the rest of the season. We have a bye week after this. For us, it’s kinda the midway break point. We’ve been building up to this. And then we hope to continue to take steps after that bye week. But, obviously getting the defending champs back in our house and in front of our homecoming crowd…there’s a lot of anticipation there.”
As Drach mentioned, this is no average home game for Union; it’s Homecoming Weekend. Opening kickoff Saturday from Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.