The Union Knights are in the semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time as they prepare for their matchup with fourth ranked Adel ADM on Monday. One of the favorites in Class 3A coming into this year, Union sat at 2-2 in the district following a Week 6 loss to Maquoketa.
Knights coach Joe Hadacheck says that his team was battling injuries at that point and it took a big effort to regroup following that loss. He says they had a team meeting and said they had to refocus and he says they did a good job of worrying about what they could controal and not about what they couldn’t.
One of the big catalysts behind Union’s run to the Dome has been wide receiver-turned-quarterback Jay Scheel, who passed for a score, ran for another, and returned a punt for a touchdown in the Knights’ quarterfinal win over Maquoketa. Hadachek says that Scheel is playing beyond his age. He says he’s not a sophomore, he’s a junior now in the way he is playing. He says Scheel had all the skills, but he had to grow into the position and get confidence to play against top teams.
Hadachek says his team will have their hands full on both sides of the ball when they take on ADM. He says they have the best quarterback in the state, and in the dome, they won’t have to worry about the weather.
The Knights lost leading receiver Hunter Zemple to a wrist injury in September and Hadachek says his players have really rallied around their injured teammate.
By Jesse Gavin KCNZ Cedar Falls