Saginaw United High School

Saginaw United Football Finds Bright Spots Through Six Weeks Records don't always show everything a team is building. Through Week 6 of the Saginaw Valley League's Red Division schedule, Saginaw United sits at 0-6 overall. The stat sheet shows a young group with real playmakers, a punishing ground game, and a lot of players who are making their mark. A League-Leading Ground Attack The biggest name in the Red Division backfield is Jordan Salden. The Saginaw United running back has carried the ball 114 times for 615 yards, the most rushing yards of any player in the league. That puts him ahead of every runner in the division, including Davison's Kris Robinson (473) and Grand Blanc's Jake Dewitt (393). Salden has averaged more than five yards per carry while taking on a heavy workload, and he has found the end zone twice. He has plenty of help. Quarterback Tristan Ramsey has been a threat with his legs, rushing 16 times for 156 yards, an impressive 9.75 yards per carry, plus a touchdown. Bobby Wilson has averaged 8.75 yards on his carries, and Damarion Sherman, Willie Buchanan, Matthew McDonald, and Jason Allen have all contributed. Together, United has piled up 851 rushing yards, more than both Lapeer and Carman-Ainsworth. Targets Who Make Plays Ramsey and Buchanan have a deep group of pass-catchers to work with. Dontea Price leads the team with 15 receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown. Jalil Sanders is right behind him with 12 catches for 171 yards, averaging a solid 14.25 yards per grab, and he also found the end zone. The depth is encouraging. James Casey (4 catches, 55 yards, 1 TD), Bobby Wilson (7 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD), Jason Allen (19.5 yards per catch), Matthew McDonald, Zhaiden Agloro, and Kyndell Jefferies have all caught passes, which means opposing defenses can't focus on just one target. Spreading the Wealth in the End Zone United's 44 points this season have come from a wide group of scorers. Salden, Price, Sanders, Casey, Wilson, and Ramsey have all reached the end zone. A balanced scoring attack like that is a sign of an offense with many ways to move the ball. Building Toward What's Next Saginaw United has 1,489 yards of total offense, ahead of Lapeer in the division, and has shown it can move the ball against strong competition in a tough Red Division. The core of this offense, from a workhorse back to a dual-threat quarterback to a deep receiving group, has the pieces to build on. As more of these players gain experience together, the team's supporters have plenty to look forward to over the rest of the schedule.