Union head coach Jared Pospisil, fourth from left, speaks to his team during a timeout on the field last season. Pospisil will officially begin his sixth season at the Knights’ helm this Friday when Union hosts the A-P Falcons in La Porte City. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY- The Union Knights football team returns to the gridiron this Friday with head coach Jared Pospisil in his sixth season at the helm.

“Our preseason has started on a strong tone,” Pospisil told the newspaper in mid-August. “Our guys have approached every day of practice with energy and enthusiasm. We are eager to get the season started!”

Union’s returning offense this year includes senior Andrew Sadler and junior Caden Sorensen – both at quarterback, as well as wide receivers Justice Luke (senior), Cooper Spore (junior), and Mays Weber (junior), and seniors Owen Hennings and Eric Neipert.

On defense, returning starters include seniors Brayden Bohnsack, Owen Hennings, Justice Luke (defensive back/linebacker), Briar Mast (linebacker), Eric Neipert, Andrew Sadler, and Wyatt Walker, and juniors Brock Bergmeier (linebacker) and Caden Sorensen.

Pospisil said the high note his team finished on last season – a trio of wins including over Waukon in the first round of playoffs – is something Union plans to capitalize on this season.

“The Knights rallied to a strong finish at the end of the season last year. We plan to use the lessons we learned last year to springboard into a stronger start this year. We will lean on our strong special teams foundation, led by Todd Carlson, and our experience on the defensive side of the ball, as our new offensive system – led by our new offensive coordinator Matt Miers – roars to life.”

The team is down at least one member of the coaching staff this season, the legendary Joe Hadachek who led Union from 2007-2018 and returned last season as an assistant coach. Hadachek is now head coach at nearby Vinton-Shellsburg which is part of the same district as Union.

The Knights are scheduled to face the Vikings – whom they’ve beat nine out of 10 times historically – in a road game set for Oct. 11. Pospisil was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Hadachek in 2011 when the Knights won the 3A state championship.

“Coach Hadachek is a mentor and friend no matter where he goes,” Pospisil said when asked to comment on Hadachek’s move to the Vikings. “I am confident that he and his staff will elevate [his team’s performance] each day. Still, over the years, I’ve had the chance to coach against my hometown team and against other former coaching peers, and each time there’s something special about it. However, the focus is always the same – prepare as well as you can to perform to your ultimate ability.”

In addition to Vinton-Shellsburg, the Knights also face Iowa Falls-Alden, Jesup, PCM, and West Marshall this season as part of the Class 2A District 6 pairings. Pospisil said the Mustangs are top drawer in the district.

“This year the top team in our district is PCM. They have had a great tradition of physical football, and they seem primed to continue that tradition this year. We believe that if we [can raise] our level of physicality on both offense and defense while continuing our tradition of strong special teams, we will give PCM a challenge.”

“That said, teams like Jesup and Iowa Falls-Alden have really taken huge strides forward in their performance, and West Marshall and Vinton are extremely well-coached, so we will face great competition all season.”

The Knights’ 2024-25 season opener is set for tonight, Friday, Aug. 30, at home against Aplington-Parkersburg with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. For the last two years, the Falcons have bested the Knights while Union maintains a strong 5-3 win record overall in the series.

Knights 2024-25 schedule

Friday, Aug 30 v. Aplington-Parkersburg, 7:30 p.m. (Home)

Friday, Sept. 6 at Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m. (Away)

Friday, Sept. 13 at West Delaware, 7:30 p.m. (Away)

Friday, Sept. 20 v. Iowa Falls-Alden, 7:30 p.m. (Homecoming)

Friday, Sept. 27 at PCM, 7:30 p.m. (Away)

Friday, Oct. 4 v. Jesup, 7:30 p.m. (Home)

Friday, Oct. 11 at Vinton-Shellsburg, 7:30 p.m. (Away)

Friday, Oct. 18 v. West Marshall, 7:30 p.m. (Home)