Union/A-C Valley football 2025 preview: What to watch, 3 things to know and schedule
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Andrew Kifer hands the ball off during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Andrew Kifer hands the ball off during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Logan Skibinski runs the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Andrew Kifer hands the ball off to Logan Skibinski during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Logan Skibinski runs the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Logan Skibinski runs the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Logan Skibinski runs the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Nick Ielase catches the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Nick Ielase catches the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler EagleValley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Nick Ielase catches the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Andrew Kifer throws the ball during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Union/A-C Valley varsity football team practiced on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley head coach Dan Reed talks to players during football practice on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Union High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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From left, Union/A-C Valley's Aidan Fox, Max Gallagher and Colbin Elliott during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Colbin Elliott during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Colbin Elliott during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Max Gallagher during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Max Gallagher during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Aidan Fox during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Union/A-C Valley's Aidan Fox during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
For Union/A-C Valley football, it's not a matter of simply replacing Owen Bish, who graduated last spring after leading an 8-4 campaign. His production at quarterback and defensive back made him arguably the program's best player in its nine-year history since the two schools agreed to a co-op in 2016.
The question facing the Falcon Knights is this: is the team's returning experience, coupled with an infusion of green talent, enough to get it to the playoffs for an eighth straight season?
Freshman Andrew Kifer (5-feet-11, 160 pounds) will move into the starting quarterback spot after emerging from a group of underclassmen who vied for the job.
"We're extremely young at that position, a sophomore and two freshmen," Union/A-C Valley coach Dan Reed said. "Andrew worked in the weight room and gained muscle. He's shown a good command of the offense and has a really nice arm.
"Teams will probably look to load the box against us to stop the run, and we need our passing game to open things up."
That ground game receives a boost with the return of Logan Skibinski. A track star who broke A-C Valley's school record in the 100-meter dash in the spring, Skibinski missed his junior football season because of injury. As a sophomore in 2023, he rushed for 392 yards, a 5.9 yards-per-carry average and five touchdowns.
Reed said the offense will often line up in a two-back set, with Skibinski and Max Gallagher, who gained over 800 yards last year, both on the field.
"I split carries in the running game with Owen last year and have no problem sharing them with Logan," Gallagher said. "He has amazing speed but can also be physical."
Speed will be a major component of the Falcon Knights' offense. Senior Aidan Fox, another sprinter from the track team, is back at receiver after making 29 receptions a year ago for 320 yards and seven scores.
"When I get the ball in my hands, I trust my footwork and just let my instincts take over," said Fox, who is now healthy following a nagging hamstring injury that slowed him down in the spring.
Reed is confident in his supporting cast on the ground and in the air. Jorge Reyes, Mike Yerkey and Parker Bish — a trio that combined for over 500 yards and eight scores in 2024 — will be options in the running game. Trent Fleming, Nick Ielase and Zack Johnson will each see time at receiver.
1. The anchor returns: Colbin Elliott will once again lead the offensive and defensive lines. The 6-1, 250-pound senior will be at tackle on both sides. Last year, he played outside linebacker in the team's 3-3-5 base defense and intercepted three passes while making 90 tackles. The scheme will be 4-2-5 this year.
"I won't be playing on the perimeter this year, will have more opportunities to rush the quarterback," Elliott said.
Center Cole Wilson is another returning starter on the line, which should also feature 270-pound tackle Dane Wiant.
2. Pass at your own risk: The Falcon Knights' secondary will feature Johnson and Fleming at cornerback, Fox and Skibinski at safety. Parker Bish and Ielase can play either position. The entire group totaled five interceptions and 191 tackles a year ago.
"We have experience at all three levels of our defense, but there are less questions in our secondary," Reed said.
3. A strong bond: Once rivals on the gridiron, Union and A-C Valley joined forces nine years ago and have become one of the most consistent Class 1A programs in District 9.
"We don't look at each other as players from either school," Elliott said. "We're one team. It's kinda neat because we still have separate boys basketball teams, so during the winter season, there's a lot of trash talking back and forth, then we come back together for football."
- Aug. 22, 7 p.m. — at Otto-Eldred
- Aug. 28, 7 p.m. — vs. Redbank Valley
- Sept. 4, 6 p.m. — at Keystone*
- Sept. 12, 7 p.m. — vs. Cameron County
- Sept. 19, 7 p.m. — at Ridgway/Johnsonburg*
- Sept. 26, 7 p.m. — at Moniteau*
- Oct. 3, 7 p.m. — vs. Kane*
- Oct. 10, 7 p.m. — vs. Smethport
- Oct. 17, 7 p.m. — at Port Allegany
- Oct. 23, 7 p.m. — vs. Reynolds
*Division/section/conference game
