FOOTBALL FRIDAY: This could be for SEK crown

Senior halfback Wyatt Tourtillott (carrying the ball) is Fort Scott's second-leading rusher with 122 yards in the Tigers' first two games. Senior fullback Carter Young (36, blocking) is the rushing leader with 143 yards. (Kenny Felt/Captured Images)

Not to overhype things, but the way things are going early in the season, it's entirely possible that the Southeast Kansas League football championship will be decided on the new artificial turf at Frary Field Friday night.

The host Tigers (1-0 SEK, 2-0 overall) and the visiting Purple Dragons (2-0, 2-0) are the only unbeaten teams either in league play or overall. Independence (1-1, 1-1) has lost to Pittsburg -- badly -- and Parsons (1-1, 1-1), while breaking the third-longest losing streak in the SEK since 1962 last week, has a loss against Fort Scott. Chanute hasn't played a league game yet but is 0-2 and has the league's worst scoring defense (54.5 points allowed per game).

Sure, any of the other league teams could improve between now and their scheduled meeting with either Fort Scott or Pittsburg (Labette County does not play Pittsburg this season). But these two teams are head-and-shoulders above the rest of the league right now.

Fort Scott has found some offensive balance. The Tigers have actually passed for a few more yards (414) this season than they've rushed for (343). Kaleb DeLaTorre has completed 64 percent of his passes. Marcus Stepps has 12 receptions for 255 yards already this season. Meanwhile, the balance in the backfield remains. Carter Young has rushed for 143 yards this season and Wyatt Tourtillott has run for 122. The Tigers are averaging 6.1 yards per running play.

The Tigers have allowed 421 yards rushing this season but the opposition has attempted 25 more rushing plays than Fort Scott (81 to 56) and the Tigers are averaging nearly an entire yard more per carry. Opposing passers have completed just 9 of 31 passes for 124 yards.

And not many teams can match the weapon that is senior kicker/receiver/defensive back Brody Southwell. His 52-yard field goal last week was one of the longest in state history. And his big leg will influence field position, maybe a few touchbacks preventing big returns.

Pittsburg has crushed its first two opponents this season. The Dragons opened by routing Coffeyville, 57-14. Last week, they crushed Independence, 46-0. In both games, they showed a preference for the running game.

Sherrick Rogers, back in Pittsburg after a year in Chetopa, has rushed for 219 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dante Menghini ran for 127 yards and 3 TDs versus Coffeyville. Quarterback Spencer Turnbull ran for 101 yards versus Independence. Turnbull has thrown for 148 yards this season.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. tonight at Frary Field.