Union Mine keeps its eyes on the league prize after knocking off Bradshaw Christian
Matt Ray was explaining what a “Union Mine kid” is all about.
The Union Mine High School football coach was surrounded by them in a joyous postgame scene Friday night, a 27-14 triumph over previously unbeaten and No. 22-ranked Bradshaw Christian.
The Diamondbacks team came in ranked 24th but without their best player in do-all talent Joe Repass, out with a broken collarbone the previous week. Union Mine lost to Liberty Ranch last week and lost some team gusto. The Diamondbacks found their swagger again Friday.
Ray said Union Mine kids are defined by having, “A lot of heart. A lot of determination.” And the sense of feeling a bit slighted as the “other school” in the El Dorado Unified School District behind the oldest school in the district in El Dorado High; the most successful football program in the district in Oak Ridge; and a school with decades of tradition in Ponderosa.
The only school in that collection that is talking about a league championship is Union Mine, which is 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Sierra Valley Conference that includes head-to-head wins over Bradshaw Christian and Rosemont, which are also 3-1 in league play.
But something was missing last week when the Diamondbacks played, and it cost them dearly. Liberty Ranch stung them with a 27-13 defeat that threatened to derail the season.
“We didn’t have any fight in that game, weren’t physical, didn’t compete the way we’re capable of, and they beat us,” Ray said. “We got arrogant as a team. We were undefeated, started reading all our press, and got beat. But this was great tonight. Really proud of our guys. This is what being a Union Mine kid is all about.”
No one defines that description more than Calvin Owens. The gritty senior quarterback opened the game with a 1-yard scoring plunge, broke a 14-all tie with a 4-yard scoring effort on fourth and goal with 5:29 left to play in the game, and then he sealed it with a 1-yard touchdown with 51 seconds left as Union Mine bled the clock after stopping Bradshaw Christian (8-1) on downs at the Pride 37-yard line.
“Great win,” is how Owens sized it up. He also praised his offensive line of Jack Clark, Nick Donlan, Jaxon King, John Murphy and Aliah Smith. King is the towering one at left tackle at 6-foot-8 and 295 pounds with a personality as big as he is.
Scott Smith also played big for the upstart Diamondbacks. The senior running back rushed for 131 yards on 25 carries, doing a lot of the heavy lifting for a team that was determined to beat Bradshaw Christian at its own game: run the ball, defend the ball, chew clock.
Union Mine closes the regular season at home with a rivalry game against El Dorado in the 15th Gold Nugget game, and then it’s on to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. Ray is in his second year at the school as athletic director and first as head football coach, having led Antelope High to a decade of success. He was mobbed by his young sons after Friday’s game concluded, Vander and Donato, two quarterbacks in the making.
Ray also sized up this sport in general and how it can make, mold or break a team.
“Football is a grind,” he said, “It’s a long season. It’s not easy. It’s hot for most of the season. You get 10 games and months of practice days. It’s not always instant gratification, which is what too much of society wants. Yeah, winning cures a lot, but you can learn a lot in defeat.”
Said lineman King of what he expects from his team the rest of the way, “You’ll have to come see! We’ll be ready.”