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MORRISTOWN -- The Jets are off and running this season.
For the second straight game, Union Local unleashed an effective rushing attack, spiced by a robust aerial game, en route to its second successive win, the latest coming Friday night via a 42-21 nod over improving Buckeye Local. The Jets opened the season with a 34-20 ground-crunching win at Southern Local.
The loss dropped Buckeye Local to 0-2 for rookie coach Chris Kiedaisch. The Panthers fell to Bellaire in their opener but looked much improved and more competitive in Week 2.
Union Local put on an offensive display, rushing for 320 stripes and adding 199 via the air, making the most of two talented quarterbacks.
Brody Perzanowski turned in another strong effort for Coach Bernie Thompson's explosive squad. The talented sophomore rushed 27 times for 210 stripes and two TDs.
He was complemented offensively by a host of Jets. Starting QB Isaiah Tomolonis rushed for 59 yards and a TD while throwing for 81 stripes and another six-pointer.
Junior Colby Carpenter also saw quality time at quarterback. He completed 10-of-13 tosses for 118 yards and a TD. Speedy senior Dre Saunders hauled in seven passes for 79 yards and a TD.
"It wasn't the prettiest of wins. We made a lot of mistakes," Thompson said. "We got stopped on the one yard, gave up two long touchdowns and turned the ball over.
"But with all that said, you look up and we got 42 points on the board and we got the W," added the former UL and collegiate receiving great. "It was a real nice win as Buckeye Local is a much-improved team. That competed very well."
On UL's initial possession of the night, the Jets staged a nice drive but was stymied by the Panther defense at the Buckeye one-yard line.
Buckeye wasted no time in taking advantage of the goal-line stand. On the third Panther snap, quarterback Alex McDiffitt raced 95 yards to paydirt. Hayden Boyce added the PAT.
UL took the ensuing kickoff and embarked on a 13-play scoring drive, capped by Perzanowski's five yard run. Jeff Bolon added the game-tying PAT.
After forcing a Buckeye punt, UL needed just five plays to cover 47 yards. Carpenter connected with Saunders on a 21-scoring toss. Bolon made it a 14-7 reading.
Buckeye used some trickery to tie the contest. McDiffitt threw a backward pass to Grant Dombroski, who in turn found Hayden Boyce wide open behind the Jet secondary, resulting in a 73-yard scoring connection. Boyce added the PAT.
The hosts took a 21-14 advantage into intermission on the strength of a Tomolonis to Sean Alkire aerial hookup, covering 10 yards. Bolon again converted.
UL stretched the lead on its first possession of the second half. The Jets drove 58 yards on six plays with Tomolonis taking it in from the two for a 27-14 reading. The PAT misfired.
Buckeye didn't go away.
The Panthers put together an elongated 68-yard, 14-play drive, capped by Xavier Eastham's one-yard burst. Boyce's boot cut the UL lead to 27-21.
Thompson's charges, however, regained the momentum via a 47-yard scoring burst from Perzanowski with just 28 seconds left in the third quarter. The hosts opted to go for two with Carpenter teaming with Saunders for a 35-21 count.
UL tacked on some fourth-quarter insurance as sophomore Ayden Graham sprinted in from the 19. Bolon dropped the curtain on the night's scoring with the PAT.
"We played much better tonight than we did at Bellaire," Kiedaisch offered. "Our goal tonight was to compete hard for 48 minutes. I thought we did that.
"We lost to a quality team tonight. They have a lot of weapons," added the former Linsly offensive coordinator. "I think we made progress tonight and we just need to keep building on that."
The Panthers rushed for 151 yards. McDiffitt accounted for 101 of those stripes on nine attempts. Buckeye added 101 stripes in the air, completing five-of-13 passes.
Buckeye visits Shadyside Friday.
"I like the resiliency we showed. That is a reflection of the quality leadership we have," Thompson added. "We got a couple key games coming up, starting with Indian Creek next week. I like what our guys have shown the first two weeks."
Friday's night's kickoff was delayed 15 minutes due to a pre-game thunderstorm.