FOOTBALL FRIDAY: Early key Three Rivers battle

UUniontown opened the season in very impressive fashion at home Friday night, routing Southeast 54-0 in the school's first game under new head coach Chad Hays.

Sophomore Hayden Miller ran for 151 yards for the Eagles and scored 2 touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Andrew Reed was impressive in his high-school debut with 125 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground before he was forced to leave the game with cramps.

Jayhawk-Linn, tonight's opponent at Mound City, also had a good opening, beating Neodesha, 26-12, on the road. The Jayhawks led 20-6 at the half.

The Jayhawk defense stopped the Bluestreaks on a fourth-and-5 at the J-Linn 3-yard line during the third quarter but gave up an 11-yard touchdown pass after a short punt to let Neodesha get within 20-12.

Friday night's meeting will be between the top two picks in the Three Rivers League-Upper Division (11-man) pre-season football poll. Defending champion Jayhawk-Linn was voted to repeat with Uniontown, the defending Lower Divison (8-man) champion before returning to 11-man this season, picked to finish second.

It's too early to say this game will determine the league champion. But the outcome will give the winner a big push toward that goal.