RIMERSBURG — Cody Kline heard it all summer.

He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“Oh, Union lost all their key players. Oh, they are going to be terrible this year,” said Kline, a senior running back on the Union football team. “Even people in our own school were saying that. It made me so mad.”

So Kline and his Golden Knight teammates set out this fall to do something about what they perceived to be gross misconceptions about the skill level on the roster.

Through four games, they are making believers out of, well, just about everyone.

Following a 28-18 win at Karns City Friday — the first win for the Knights over the Gremlins since Oct. 20, 1995 — Union is 4-0.

Last year, Union went 7-4 and made the playoffs for the first time in school history.

But the team lost quarterback Taylor Smith, running backs Mikey Harris and Austin Davis and wideout Brody Pollock — or roughly 82 percent of the offense — to graduation.

Expectations outside of Union were that the Knights would be a one-hit wonder — a team that had a dream season, but one that would slip back into mediocrity ... or worse.

Even Union head football coach Dave Louder is a little taken aback by the perfect start.

“We didn’t think we’d be where we are at this point,” Louder said.

“Four-and-0,” Louder added with a tinge of disbelief in his voice. “We knew we had a good crew of guys, but we didn’t think we could fill the holes that quickly. We didn’t think we’d be this productive, this aggressive, this dominating defensively.”

Union has been all of that.

The Knights’ defense has forced 11 turnovers in the first four games while their offense has committed just three.

One of the keys has been senior quarterback Brody Shick, who has been extremely efficient on offense and a ball hawk on defense with four interceptions.

“It’s great how he’s taken control and he manages the game so well,” Louder said. “He’s just been great. He’s been smooth and collected.”

And he’s been blessed with weapons around him.

Kline leads the team with 286 yards rushing. Keenan Rankin has 128 yards on just 20 carries to go with 158 yards receiving on six receptions.

The Union offense has big-play potential.

“They make it easy for me,” Shick said. “And I couldn’t do any of it without my line.”

Four seniors start up front: Jake Gezik, Jesse Minick, Darren Seary and Travis Daugherty. The other position on the line has been filled by underclassmen Tyler Sharrar and Randy Stewart.

“Our seniors on the line are just phenomenal,” Louder said. “They are so smart, they are calling blocks on the line and making them and they are helping the younger guys like Sharrar and Stewart.”

On defense, Union has made life difficult on opponents, giving up just 11 points per game.

“I think the key has been intensity,” said Kline, who is also a linebacker and nose guard on defense. “Everyone’s always in on the tackle. Everyone is always jumping around and screaming.”

The small town of Rimersburg also is starting to buy into the team.

Rankin said strangers are coming up to him to offer congratulations.

“It’s kind of strange,” he said. “But it feels pretty good. They’re starting to have faith in us.”

Union will face a big test Friday when it welcomes Clarion to town for a big Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference-Small School showdown.

Both teams are 4-0.

Unlike most coaches when faced with a big game, Louder isn’t trying to downplay it.

In fact, he’s playing it up.

“This is the small school championship game. That’s what I’m telling them. They better be ready for the pressure,” Louder said. “This is the one that beats all. I’m a Clarion graduate. My senior year was (Clarion coach Larry Wiser’s) first year as coach. This is a man I’ve known since I was in high school. His wife used to cut my hair. So, to beat him would be the cherry on top of everything.”

Pundits are sure to pick against the Knights again this week against a Clarion team that has dispatched opponents by an average score of 49-8.

The Knights will be carrying a chip on their shoulder into that game as well.

“I’m sure people will be picking us to lose again,” Rankin said. “But I have a feeling ...”