Union-Endicott, N.Y. - The Union-Endicott Tigers have dominated Section IV Class A for quite some time now. Winning four of the last five Section IV Class A Titles. Last season the Tigers clinched their second straight Class A championship, making it a familiar face place for U-E. The place they have grown to know well has allowed them to become a team that everyone knows, very well. 

"We always feel like we have a target on our back" said head coach Tom Baleno. 

 "But, that's exciting. We look to be every team in Section IV's rival. It brings out the best in them and brings out the best in us."

That target will become even bigger in the 2018 season as the Tigers return a veteran squad, with nearly 30 seniors and six solid running backs. The Tigers have also doubled their offensive line from 8 guys to now having 15. The experience and the depth makes up for the weakness's the Tigers had last year.

"Last year we didn't have a lot of depth in positions. So, if we got banged up here or there we were in trouble and that caught up with us at the end of the season" said Baleno.

"This year we have a lot of depth in all our positions, so that's nice."

It's clearly no longer the depth that holds the question mark in the 2018 season, but instead the question mark is at the quarterback position. Starting quarterback Devon Hogan graduated last season and therefore, the position is up for grabs.

"We have 3 guys (Donovan Hogan, Zach Plarcheck, Adam Thomas) that could start and that brings out a toughness but also a oneness as well because they help each other out" Baleno said.

" it's not just fighting for a spot but helping each other out, to get better." 

The message to this year's team is to focus on one simple task.

"The message this year is to get better everyday. Pick one thing to fix" said Baleno.

"There could be one-hundred things going wrong but you can't fix them all so pick one good thing to fix. It could be a stance,a start, it could be anything, Just fix one thing. Throughout the year if you keep fixing one thing, you'll be a pretty good player."

"We talk about what we believe as a football program and what our creed is and we talk about what defines u-e football, and talk about key words like intensity, passion, focus and that's what we want as our staple. A hard hitting football team that likes to be on the field and play for each other."

Union-Endicott's first game of the season starts on the road Against Newburgh High School on Friday, August 31 at 6 p.m.