BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County was dealt a huge blow in last week’s scrimmage game against Chestatee.
Junior Cade Dockery, who showed tremendous potential as the Panthers newest quarterback, went down with an injury in the first quarter. Coach Michael Perry confirmed on Wednesday that Dockery tore his ACL and will miss the entire 2024 campaign.
It is especially rough considering the Panthers moved over to Region 7-2A in the latest round of reclassification with state finalist Rockmart and North Cobb Christian.
Perry said they will have to adjust.
“This is a killer blow,” he said. “Cade was gonna be really good. He is a tremendous young man…and a special football player. We all know the Lord never gives us anything we can’t handle. Cade will continue to hold a vital role for this team and he will be back next year bigger and stronger and ready for everything.”
Now, they will have to turn to youth and inexperience as they get ready for their season opener on Aug. 23 at Gilmer.
“We have a freshman in Kamden Kendrick and we have senior Maddox Young, who also plays receiver,” Perry said. “Both of those guys will play. Maddox is a basketball player and did not play football last year.”
Union County was picked to finish fourth in Region 7-2A by AccessWDUN Sports in the preseason. They will not have much time to get either Kendrick or Young ready for region play.
After Gilmer, the Panthers take on rival Fannin County on Aug. 30 in Blairsville before opening region play on Sept. 6 at home against Murray County. They then travel to Rockmart on Sept. 13.
