Added incentive
Uniontown, AG rivalry intensifies with both in same conference
Uniontown vs. Albert Gallatin has always been a big football rivalry but Friday’s game between the two will have an added incentive.
Both teams have rejoined the WPIAL and are in the same Class 4A Big Six Conference.
“It’s a big conference opener against a local rival,” Red Raiders coach Tim Bukowski said.
“The conference part makes it even bigger,” AG coach Drew Dindl said. “There’s pride involved, but there’s also something on the line in the standings. Our kids know that.”
All but one of the 16 local teams will be in conference action on Friday with 7 p.m. kickoffs.
Laurel Highlands (0-5) also plays in the Big Six and will host Ringgold (2-3).
In the Class 5A Big East Conference, Connellsville (0-1, 3-2) is at Woodland Hills (2-0, 2-3).
In the Class 3A Interstate Conference, Belle Vernon (1-0, 4-1) goes to Derry (0-1, 2-3) and Southmoreland (1-1, 2-3) hosts Waynesburg Central (1-1, 4-1), while Mount Pleasant (1-1, 3-2) is home against Freeport (4-1) in the only non-conference matchup of the week.
In the Class 2A Allegheny Conference, Brownsville (0-2, 0-5) plays unbeaten Ligonier Valley (1-0, 5-0) at Redstone Field.
In the Class A Tri-County South, California (2-0, 3-2) travels to Mapletown (0-2, 0-5), Beth-Center (2-0, 5-0) hosts Jefferson-Morgan (1-1, 1-4), Carmichaels (0-2, 1-4) takes on Frazier (1-1, 2-3) at Coaches Field and West Greene (1-1, 2-3) goes to Avella (1-1, 2-3).
Uniontown will have the home field advantage against Albert Gallatin with the game at Bill Power Stadium. That is actually a rare occurrence in a series that the Colonials have dominated in recent years.
Dindl has never lost to the Red Raiders in six meetings, all with AG playing as an independent, and the Colonials have won eight straight overall.
Uniontown was last victorious in 2015, 42-14, under coach John Fortugna at York Run.
Only three of their last eight clashes have been at Uniontown, and those have been the most competitive (AG wins of 26-20 in 2016, 12-0 in 2022 and 36-21 in 2024).
“You don’t have to explain the rivalry to them,” Dindl said of his players. “They understand it. Our kids know their kids. They’ve grown up around each other, played against each other, and there’s a lot of pride in both communities.”
This will be the first conference clash between the two since 2017 when the Colonials won 40-13 at home.
The Red Raiders have the better overall record this season going into the game at 3-2. The Colonials are 2-3.
The teams have very different styles as far as offense is concerned. Uniontown mixes up the run and pass well and has some dangerous weapons, while Albert Gallatin relies on a grind-it-out, run-heavy attack.
“We have to play assignment football on defense because if you don’t, they’ll make you pay,” Bukowski said of AG. “They run the flexbone and they run it well. It’s tough for our scout team to replicate it in practice, too.”
Fullback Roman Smith leads AG’s ground game with 80 carries for 472 yards but the Colonials have other effective runners. Gio Guerriere (41-282), quarterback Bronx Jamison (37-221), Clayton Bolinger (37-205) and Bentley Swaney (12-138) have all produced when handed the ball. Guerriere, Jamison, Smith and Swaney have each rushed for three touchdowns.
“For us, there’s no secret about who we are,” Dindl said. “We want to run the football, be physical and make people defend us for four quarters. We don’t need to become something different because it’s a rivalry game.”
The Red Raiders prefer a much more wide-open offense, led by quarterback Brayden Hinzy who leads the area in touchdown passes with 13 and has thrown just three interceptions. He’s completed 50 of 95 passes for 988 yards.
By comparison, Jamison had thrown the ball just 10 times, completing five for 79 yards with three going to Bolinger for 59 yards.
Hinzy’s favorite target is the explosive Marcus Evans, who has 22 receptions for 612 yards to go along with five carries for 105 yards. He’s tied for second among local players with 11 touchdowns.
Nate Hice is another threat with 13 catches for 180 yards. The Red Raiders’ top runners are Michael Thomas (12 carries for 225 yards) and Tayshawn Jackson (12-159).
“We have to keep spreading the ball around and get our athletes in space,” Bukowski said.
Dindl is wary of the Red Raiders’ superior speed.
“You can definitely see Uniontown getting more comfortable with Coach Bukowski’s system in his second year,” Dindl said. “They’re playing faster, they look more confident, and they have some guys who can really hurt you if you let them get in space.
“They can make explosive plays in the passing game, so, defensively, we have to be disciplined. We can’t give them cheap ones. Make them snap the ball again, tackle well and make them earn it.”
The forecast calls for rain on Friday although there is the potential for it to end around kickoff.
“Hopefully, the weather holds up because that’s always a concern when you throw the ball like we do,” Bukowski said.
Both teams will we revved up but Dindl pointed out one key to the outcome will be which players stay more composed in the heat of the moment.
“These rivalry games usually come down to who handles their emotions the best,” Dindl said. “You can be excited, you can play with an edge, but you still have to do your job. The team that stays disciplined and executes is usually the team that puts itself in the best position to win.
“We know Friday is going to have a different feel to it, but at the end of the day, we still have to line up, execute and play good football.”