Tanner Merwin thought he had the hat trick.

The Union/A-C Valley junior defensive back had already returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Port Allegany last season on a sunny late September Saturday afternoon.

He had a third in his sights.

Merwin stepped in front of a pass near midfield, dodged a tackle and raced into the open field near the far sideline.

He tried to make a cut at the 10, but stumbled, and was brought down at the 5.

“That was tough,” Merwin said, snickering. “That was a tough pill to swallow.”

Union/ACV won, 32-7. Merwin also had a touchdown reception in that game.

“That's probably one of my most favorite games,” Merwin said.

It also a snippet of what the 5-foot-10, 160-pound Swiss Army Knife of a player could do on the football field.

Merwin finished the campaign with five interceptions and 45 tackles on defense and also led the Falcon Knights with 28 receptions for 430 yards and six touchdowns.

It was enough for Merwin to get noticed this offseason.

Merwin was named to the preseason Pennsylvania Class A first-team on defense by Rivals.com.

It's a prestigious nod.

“It's an honor, really,” Merwin said. “I put in a lot of work this year and I'm glad they saw from last year that I had the ability to do that again this year.”

Merwin enjoys moving all over the field, both on offense and defense.

He's played safety and corner back on defense and wide receiver, running back — and can even play quarterback when pressed into action there — on offense.

He's listed as an athlete on recruiting sites.

“I'll do anything for the team,” Merwin said. “Wherever they want me to play, that's where I'll play.”

He prefers safety on defense because it allows him the opportunity to be in on every play.

Merwin has had a knack to reading the quarterback and being in the right place at the right time to break up a pass — or intercept it.

“I think about it more pre-play, looking at clues and keys to what's going to be run,” Merwin said. “During the play, I try to lure them into it. Sometimes, though, it just comes down to you having to react.”

Merwin never comes off the field — he even plays special teams and was dangerous as well in the return game.

He doesn't mind the workload.

“I was on every single thing,” Merwin said. “I take a lot of pride in that. I wouldn't want it any other way.”

Merwin conditions hard in the offseason and the team does as well during the season to stay fit in fourth quarters.

With a small roster, many of the Falcon Knights play on both sides of the ball.

Merwin said he put in even more work this offseason to get ready for his senior campaign.

“It's probably the best offseason of work I've ever had,” Merwin said. “Hopefully this year we have a season and I can show that off.”

That's the question hanging over everyone this fall.

Gov. Wolf strongly recommended last week that fall sports be postponed until at least Jan. 1.

That's left seniors like Merwin hoping to hang on to their final high school year on the football field.

This season was to be a big one for Merwin, who is hoping to attract more college interest.

“Senior year, man, I've played football since I was 7 years old and I love the game,” he said. “To have my senior year taken away, that would be terrible. All the seniors are going through the same thing. You're worried, but you're trying to get through it.”