UPSL: Checking in with Scenic City Soccer Club
- Philip Farrell
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
Credit: Scenic City SC
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE MATCH AGAINST CHATTANOOGA RED WOLVES II LAST WEDNESDAY. DUE TO DELAYS IN PUBLISHING, THE PIECE HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY REWORKED.
Scenic City are into just their second season in the Premier Division after earning promotion last Spring. They have started the season strongly and are on a four-game winning streak, looking to improve on their 4th place finish in the Fall. After winning the National Soccer Network’s Chattanooga Challenge preseason tournament, let’s check in with coach Joshua Luff and see how the club has continued to grow.
Scenic’s Season Thus Far:
SCSC’s season started with a home loss to leaders LSA Mustangs on March 15. Goals from Marcus Odeny and Jack Conrad weren’t enough to avoid a 3-2 loss. “The first game didn’t go the way we wanted”, Head Coach Josh Luff told me this week. “There was an unfortunate run of events. We lost two guys from our back line to hamstring injuries at the same time, and the opponent scored twice. It wasn’t something you expect to deal with, but it was a good lesson for us. From that point on, the group really pulled it together. We stabilised and started building, focusing much more on the process than the results.”
Indeed, since then, Scenic City hasn’t lost, picking up the maximum of 12 points in four games. SSL FC were dispatched 3-2 at home through goals from Adin Castle, Stone Davies, and Gavin Castle on March 29. Two weeks later, they visited Canton and defeated Georgia Impact 1-0. FC Birmingham visited Chattanooga on April 19 and left following a 4-2 defeat after goals from Odeny, Conrad (x2), and Jackson Greer earned another three points for Scenic City.
Arguably, the biggest result for Scenic City’s season and perhaps since they were promoted to the Premier Division last Spring, was the recent 3-2 away win at Potros FC, one of the gold standard clubs in this league. “Last weekend against Potros was a great example”, said Luff. “We went down 2–0, had to deal with weather delays that honestly didn’t help us, and yet the guys fought through it and won the game. That speaks volumes about the character of this group. Even when we’re winning, there’s still plenty to learn. The aim is always to be better each time out.”
With three goals on the season so far, Jack Conrad is the side’s top scorer. It's likely testament to how Scenic City plays and the diverse options available to Coach Luff in attack that the goalscoring duties have been shared across several players. Stone Davies and Sam Conrad have two goals each while Marcus Odeny, Jackson Greer, and brothers Gavin and Adin Castle have added goals to bring this side to 2nd place.
Jack Conrad, Adin Castle, goalkeeper Isai Romero and defenders Michael Clow and Ben Horchack have all been named to a UPSL Premier Division Georgia Team of the Week this season. “Honestly, the whole Premier group has bought in”, Luff told me. “There’s a real sense of belief across the team. The positivity and personal growth I’ve seen from so many players, not just on the field but as human beings, has been impressive. So much of success comes down to mindset and attitude”.
With four wins from five and a strong case for playoff soccer in the works, I wonder what has changed from last Fall when the side were competitive but didn’t look as strong. “Injuries are the biggest difference”, Luff explained, “without question. One of the big lessons from last year was that availability is everything. How do you build a team that can withstand injuries? Gavin [Castle] was out all of last fall, and Aidan [Castle] had only partial availability. Gavin’s injuries weren’t his fault—just accidents that happen as part of the game. We’re really glad to have him back, along with Sam [Conrad]. Having players like that healthy again adds so much to the group”.
“So we’ve been much luckier with injuries than we were in the fall. I now have the opposite problem—a really talented bench—and I’m constantly thinking about how to manage playing time and expectations. It’s interesting how quickly we’ve gone from scrambling to fill an XI last fall to having a full bench of quality players. It’s a good problem to have”.
“Right now, we have two guys out—we’re hoping to get one back [against the Red Wolves] and another before the season ends. Last year, we had six or seven players out at the same time, some with serious injuries, and that’s really difficult to manage. This year, the roster is deeper, and availability has been much better. The players are growing as men too—taking responsibility, learning to be more efficient with their time, and finding better balance in their lives. That’s helped with consistency in training and on matchdays. If I can have 18 guys show up for every practice and game, that’s the ideal scenario”.
Scenic City has what I would call a strong core group. From captain Michael Clow at the back, in front of goalkeeper JD Meyers, to the midfield engine of Taeylor Fisch, up to the Conrad brothers banging in goals and supported by Clay Gallant, Marcus Odeny and the Castle brothers. So with a host of returning faces, what about new faces? Stone Davies recently came across from Cleveland United in the First Division. He has two goals on the season so far. “Stone’s been around the area for a while. He’s been trying to balance college at Bryant and finding the right environment for his development. He asked to make the move over, and I’ve been really happy to have him. He’s another great individual from a human standpoint—excellent attitude, hard worker, and fits in well with what we’re building”.
“Clay Gallant came in partway through last season. We needed people, and he arrived a bit out of shape and rusty, but he’s worked extremely hard to get back into playing condition. He’s been a massive addition—his positivity, hunger, and desire lift the group. Jackson Greer has adapted quickly and works really well within the team. Jacob [Schacht], on the defensive line, has been big for us too. In goal, Isai [Romero] has been excellent—he played against Georgia Impact and will start tomorrow against the Red Wolves. JD [Myers] is also a fantastic keeper. I don’t see one as better than the other; it’s just a luxury to have two goalkeepers I fully trust, especially from an availability standpoint”.
Scenic City should probably be expected to win on Wednesday, given their place in the table in respect to the Red Wolves, as well as having home advantage. But it won’t be easy. The Red Wolves recently picked up a big 3-0 win on the road and have a huge amount of resources behind them.
“Our focus has been on understanding the principles of how we want to play”, said Luff. “We want to be able to adapt to any opponent and adjust tactically to what they bring. One thing you can always expect from the Red Wolves and their coaching staff is that they’ll be well‑prepared. This is a local derby. I both like and dislike rivalries—sometimes the word ‘rivalry’ can carry negative connotations—but for me, I like to have a good relationship with the other clubs. And look, every game is a big game, regardless of whether the opponent is across town or two and a half hours away. I want us to prepare the same way every time. Realistically, the Red Wolves and us draw from different player pools. I’m not taking their players, and they’re not taking ours. If one of my guys wanted to move across and potentially train with their first team, I’d be delighted for them. They’re doing something different, and that’s good for Chattanooga and soccer in this region”.
“It’s also exciting to face new teams. In UPSL, you start to recognize patterns and styles. Birmingham are far more structured than they were last year, Potros are trying to re‑jig what they do—it always comes down to personnel. Teams have to adapt and make the most of what they have. Even familiar opponents can throw something new at you”.
All that being said, what is Coach Luff hoping for come the end of the season? “You hear coaches say “one game at a time,” and I know it’s a cliché—but it exists for a reason. Of course, I have bigger expectations. We want to win, and we want to finish at the top of the table. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here. The players want that too. But if you focus too much on results, you lose sight of the process—building, developing, fixing what needs fixing”.
“Especially with this Premier group, we’re working on discipline, leadership, and communication. When we’re in a tough moment, how do we get out of it? I don’t want us dwelling on the past, and I don’t want us looking too far ahead. I have high expectations for this group as a whole, and the emphasis has been on getting better every single day. Every game brings lessons—whether it’s a win or a loss”.
My thanks, as always, to Josh Luff for taking the time to speak with me.
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