RIMERSBURG — Union's new head coach isn't really new at all.

After a nine-year absence, Al Pryor returns to the helm and will try to bring some stability back into the program.

Since Pryor's five-year run from 1996-2000, the Golden Knights have had four coaches over the eight seasons with a combined 8-67 record.

Pryor's 2000 team went 4-5, the most wins since his 5-4 record in 1997, which had the Knights in fifth place in the 10-team Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference.

However, Pryor inherits a team that lost starting quarterback Matt Gagliano (59-129, 734 yards, eight touchdowns) and running back Colby Davis (119-622, seven TD), but Pryor does have four linemen to help anchor the offensive line.

Brennan Bliss, Dillon Heasley, Justin Greenawalt and Austin Davis will try to clear the way for a new batch of skill players.

"We just have to replace our left tackle," said Pryor, "and Brandon Schreckengost has been the best so far."

Senior Zach Traister, the team's leading receiver (23-371-4), does return, but might be moved from the slot to running back, or superback, as Pryor calls it. He will be joined by sophomore Mikey Harris and junior Matt Switzer.

Junior Trent Corle and sophomore Taylor Smith, the latter a slotback last year (7-47-1), will vie for the quarterback spot.

"Whoever is not the quarterback will be in the slot or a wide receiver," Pryor noted.

"We want to be a balanced team. We'll take what the defense gives us. By the end of the year, we want to have the same amount of passes as rushes.

"The running game, right now, is ahead of the passing game. We have good receivers. they're athletes who are not football players yet," the coach added.

Bliss, Heasley, Greenawalt and Davis also highlight the defense, with Heasley at nose guard, Bliss and Davis at linebacker and Traister at defensive end.

"(Heasley's) one of the quicker, stronger kids at the position despite his size (5-8, 173)," Pryor said. "And Richie Corle did a nice job in the recent scrimmage.

Harris also will bolster the linebacking corps, which Pryor believes is the strength of the team.

Smith is the lone returner in the secondary, but Pryor is optimistic others will step into the roles, as they did in the first scrimmage.

Union will have its hands full in the KSAC, but Pryor is hoping to blend in a lot of young players who can help contribute to the program.

"We're so young. we're looking to show good improvement as the year goes on," said Pryor. "We have to strive to be very competitive and beat those 'A' teams. If we do that, it'll be a big feather for us."