A soggy field did not stop the Union Spartans from hosting a scrimmage against St. Pauls Wednesday night, which allowed head coach Doug Burley adequate time to evaluate the team before the annual Pigskin Jamboree, just hours away now.

According to Burley, although the Spartans finished last season with a record of 6-6 and advanced to the first round of the playoffs, this season he wants the Union team to do a little better than .500, and, in order to meet his 2009 expectations, Burley commented that the older team must improve week-by-week.

With a team composed of roughly 32 seniors and juniors, out of a 35-player roster, Burley classified the Spartans taking the field this year as an older team, while also confirming that the numbers are up from last year.

Burley further explained that 16 of the players are returners, including: Antonio Garcia and Larry George on the offense; and Ronald Gray and Cody Northcutt on the defense.

“They seem to work well together,” Burley said of the team this year. “They are a good group of kids and they listen to their coaches.”

According to Burley, this season the Spartans are equipped with a new offense — the Single Wing-T series.

While in years past the Union team has ran a Single Wing-T, Spread and Power-I offense, as for the 2009 season, Burley commented that the offense is catching on quick to just running the Wing-T formation.

As for the Spartans defensively on the field, Burley confirmed that they will remain with a 4-4 this season.

Although Burley believes that the offense is catching on to the plays, he admitted that the offensive line is a question mark this season.

“The O-line is not really a weakness, more like a question mark,” Burley said, adding that in some positions, the Spartans are young, which could be a weakness for the team.

“We are young in some areas — corner backs and defensive backs,” Burley listed.

In order to strengthen the areas that bring question to the coaching staff, Burley said that they are working the younger players in with the older guys for experience.

In addition to admitting some areas of question, Burley revealed that James Wallace was Union’s biggest loss from last season.

“He is going to play football in college (North Carolina Western),” Burley said, adding that the former linebacker and running back will be tough shoes to fill.

While losing Wallace was tough on the Union team, Burley further revealed that several promising newcomers to the field are sure, he said, to help them out this season by bringing size to the turf.

As for the season, Burley said that all the games they play are tough; therefore, picking a toughest game was nearly impossible.

“They are all going to be tough games. We are probably the toughest 1-A division in the state,” Burley said of the new Tri-County Conference, which was formerly the Super Six.

With Pender and Trask added into the mix, Burley furthered that those teams were equally as tough.

In preparation for the season, Burley confirmed that the Union team has been working out Monday-Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

“I think they will do good this season if they are willing to work hard and listen to their coaches,” Burley concluded.

Union will take on Clinton tonight at 7 p.m. and East Bladen at 8 p.m. at the Dark Horse stadium for the annual Pigskin Jamboree.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at (910) 592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonnc.com