Why Union/A-C Valley’s defense will rely heavily on Micah Kindel and Noah Yori
Potential can be a tricky word in sports.
It can refer to an athlete who seemingly has a high ceiling, but has not yet produced at a certain level of competition.
The potential Union/A-C Valley coach Dan Reed detects in Noah Yori and Micah Kindel is rooted in what he's already seen from them as underclassmen on the varsity team.
As a freshman last season, Kindel, a safety moving to linebacker this year, registered 84 tackles, including 50 solo stops and two interceptions. Yori's sophomore season yielded 45 tackles, with six coming behind the line of scrimmage including three sacks and an interception from his defensive end position.
Both will be counted on to dull the sting brought on by the graduation of Max Gallagher and Colbin Elliott, who combined for 198 tackles in 2025.
Despite his inexperience, Kindel was a starter out of the gate last season.
“He had played very well through his junior high career and just continued that through camp last summer,” Reed said. “We had a spot open at safety and he earned the right to start.”
Kindel said he was “timid” during the first couple of games in 2025.
“I felt a lot of weight on my shoulders, but became more comfortable as the season played out,” he said. “I was able to help the team, was a team player, and that was my biggest goal.”
His switch from the defensive backfield to a linebacker in the Falcon Knights' 4-2-5 scheme brings with it a different set of duties.
“He'll be playing in more open space this year, will have to make more tackles in the open field, and will have a bit more responsibility against the pass,” said Reed, who appreciates Kindel's desire to want more from himself.
“I feel good about what I was able to do last year, but there's always room for improvement,” Kindel said. “I need to get better at shedding blocks and want to get into the backfield more to make tackles this season.”
Whether or not the Falcon Knights can control the line of scrimmage will be answered, in part, by Yori's effort on the defensive line.
“He's a good athlete, had a big impact for us last year,” said Reed, who recalled Yori's eight tackles (seven solo) in a playoff game against Redbank Valley his freshman year. “He's 230 pounds, but still moves very well for that size.”
Yori, who will also start on the offensive line for the third straight season, expects there to be some growing pains for the defense.
“We have just two seniors starting on defense, so we're definitely young there,” he said. “It will take some time for us to get settled, but once we get everyone in the right mindset, I think we'll hold up just fine.”
