New Union QB Ready To Prevail

By Kyle Dierking, NewsOn6.com 

TULSA, Okla. -- The footballs were flying. Union passed for more than 2,000 yards and delivered 25 touchdowns through the air last season. But, that was with pin-point passer Brandon Rogers. The new ‘Skins signal caller, junior Chase Boyce, part Rogers and add some running.

"He's going to take some things not designed the way they're supposed to be, create a little ad-lib and some big plays," said Union football coach Kirk Fridrich. "They'll be a lot of times as the coach you'll say, ‘hey get us out of this deal right now,' and he's able to do those things."

With Boyce's scrambling ability, he's expected to open up the running game for Oklahoma State commit Jeremy Smith. The senior had more than 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2007.

"You get what you see," Fridrich said. "You have a big kid who's a powerful back, is able to break through tackles and has powerful speed, and that's been well documented from his performance last year."

The passing was still present at a recent Union scrimmage. Boyce was throwing the long ball and working through the emotions of being under center.

"As we go on all the nerves are going to go away," Boyce said. "After the first couple plays everything got locked in. During the season we should be pretty locked in."

That's what the Redskins were last season, until they picked up their first and only loss to Jenks in the state title game.

"After seeing how hard it was on everybody last year, we just want to get back and finish it off this year," Boyce said.

"That's the only thing that's been on my mind is to actually get back there and win it this time," Smith said. "We're going to do it."