Uniontown falls in game's final minute

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. -- Uniontown could only cross its fingers and hope that somehow, Riley Edmondson would miss the extra point in the waning seconds of Friday night's game here, perhaps salvaging the possibility that the Eagles could still prevail in overtime.

But the PAT sailed true and homestanding Baxter Springs won a 41-40 shootout, dropping the Eagles to 1-4 on the season.

The Eagles flew out to a 20-0 lead after one period of play. Quarterback Travis Aikins scored the first two touchdowns on runs of 10 and five yards, respectively. Later, he threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jamie Shelton. But the only conversion the Eagles made was on Brandon Boyd's run after the second score.

The Lions, 3-2, came alive in the second quarter as their quarterback, Zack Wilson, threw three TD passes, the first two to Edmondson, in the period.

The first Riley-to-Edmondson connection came from 25 yards out. The second, according to Uniontown head coach Jim Mason, was on a 90-yard play on third-and-33.

Cody Spencer's one-yard run put Baxter in front 21-20 after Edmondson made the extra point. Wilson connected with Jordan Krokroskia on a 10-yard scoring pass with 16 seconds left in the half.

Shawn Pritchett brought Uniontown back within two on a 12-yard run in the third period but the Eagles again missed the PAT, so Baxter remained ahead 28-26.

Spencer increased Baxter's lead to 34-26 when he scored on a 14-yard run later in the period. This time, Edmondson missed the extra point.

The Eagles rallied in the fourth quarter with Pritchett hitting pay dirt from 11 yards out early in the period to cut the deficit to 34-32.

Aikins scored his third touchdown of the night on a one-yard run with 1:27 remaining, then found Shelton on the pass for the two-point conversion to put the Eagles ahead 40-34.

But Wilson and Edmondson connected for their third touchdown play of the night, this from 26 yards out with 26 seconds to go, tying the score before Edmondson succeeded on his PAT.

Baxter Springs had 392 yards of total offense as Wilson completed 16 of 26 passes fore 255 yards. Spencer, according to the Joplin Globe, had 116 yards on 21 carries.

Uniontown had 278 total yards, rushing for 194 on 48 carries. Zach Mason led the Eagles with 64 yards on 12 carries. Pritchett had 54 yards on 15 rushes and Aikins had 47 on 12 attempts and also threw for 84 yards.

Shelton led the defense with 13 tackles while David Shank had 12.

The Eagles will play host to Oswego in a Three Rivers League contest Friday night.