Even though the first kickoff of the Kansas high school football season is still 69 days away, athletes from seven area teams traveled to Atchison to play a little ball Saturday afternoon.

The Northeast Kansas League held it's 2013 7-on-7 Tournament on the campus of Maur Hill- Mount Academy.  ACCHS (the lone non-conference team) joined McLouth, JCN, Jackson Heights, Pleasant Ridge, Immaculata and the host MH-MA for the round-robin event.

The fans turned out in great numbers and whether they were family and friends, football starved, or just curious about the 7 on 7 format, seemed to enjoy the brisk play.  Conversations with a number of the coaches on hand followed a similar theme: The guys enjoy playing the game and it is good to see them thinking football.