RIMERSBURG — Dugan Gallagher tried thinking of the motto Union's football team got printed on T-shirts, but needed an assist to remember it.

“Make history, don't repeat it,” a teammate added from the background.

That's a high goal for the Golden Knights to set. Union won its first District 9 Class A playoff game in school history during a 6-6 campaign last season.

Putting three straight playoff defeats behind them was a good start.

But Gallagher has his sites set on something a little more prestigious: pursuing the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Small Division and District 9 titles.

“Sure the playoff win was good,” Gallagher said. “But we want to win a playoff game and go on. We want to win a KSAC or District 9. We know we're a decent team this year. I know we have the guys to do it.”

Union hasn't brought home a division title since 1985, when it finished 9-1 and captured the Clarion Little 12's West Division.

The Golden Knights last won an outright conference crown in 1984, but the now-renamed KSAC no longer holds a championship game between its two divisions.

Avoiding a repeat of history comes in a transition year.

Union will no longer be the fun-and-gun aerial assault it was under quarterback Lane Cicciarelli.

The Golden Knights passed for 2,289 yards last season, including 2,180 from Cicciarelli, who moved on to Clarion University.

Cole Morris, who led the team with 986 yards receiving, will be moved under center.

Morris was Cicciarelli's backup last season and played the position growing up.

“We'll do whatever it takes to win,” Morris said. “You can cut both of our arms off and we'll still go out there and play.”

Morris — with both of his arms intact — moving to receiver leaves a void. The Golden Knights also lost wide receiver Chet Carmichael and tight end Tyler Wiser to graduation.

That means Gallagher, who had 83 yards receiving last year, is Union's leading returning receiver.

Junior wide receiver Gavin Hawk is the next closest for the Golden Knights with 53 yards.

“We want to get (Morris) closer to the line of scrimmage,” Union coach Dave Louder said. “He can follow the center upward or option down the line. We're going to be a run-heavy team I think. We're going to use the run to open the pass or vice-versa.”

Having several big linemen up front will help the Golden Knights open up some holes.

Gavin Guntrum (6-foot-2, 315-pounds), Landon Forrest, Austin Barger and Landon Forrest all started for Union at different times last season.

“We had Dugan last year,” Guntrum said. “As long as we had a chance to run it, we drove it everywhere we wanted.”

Gallagher averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season, picking up 850 yards and 10 touchdowns on 148 carries. Drew Marsh will spell Gallagher at tailback.

While Union is going through a transition period, the Golden Knights are ready to make another run at history.

They don't want a repeat of last season. There are still titles to be won.

“It all comes down to practice,” Gallagher said. “I want to keep the winning tradition going. I think this year we are putting in more work at practice and taking practice more seriously.”