BY RICK REED News-Gazette Sports Editor Defending Tri-Eastern Conference co-champion and Class A No. 7 Tri-High took no mercy on Union City's defense Friday in week one of the Indiana prep football season. The Titans turned back the Tribe, 44-13. The Titans amassed 542 all-purpose yards, largely due to a big game by freshman running back Masyn Chalfant, who darted all over the turf for 189 yards and ran into the end zone four times. It wasn't all bad news for Union City in their 2023 opener. Three touchdowns called back due to penalties were the culprit of what might have been a much closer contest. Junior Trendon Spence had a breakout performance running the football, gaining 121 yards on 24 yards. Sophomore quarterback Jayson Connor passed or 134 yards and a touchdown in just his third varsity start. The outcome left Coach Keith Maloy upset because it was a loss, but not discouraged. "The score was rough, but we saw a lot of good things," Maloy said. "We need to work on some things and piece it together. I really believe we'll be at their level by the end of the year." Union City managed to stay within striking distance at halftime, trailing by two scores at 28-13, as Connor hooked up with Brayden Huggins for a 65-yard touchdown pass and Spence sprinted 75 yards for a score on a punt return. The Indians had two consecutive big touchdown runs nullified due to penalties to start the second half. Huggins returned Tri's kickoff for a touchdown, but a clipping call brought it back. On the next play from scrimmage, Spence got the call and raced 55 yards for a score. It too was called back, and it was an uphill battle for the deflated Indians the rest of the way. "Just silly stuff," Maloy lamented." We had touchdowns called back three times and ywo of them were back to back. I don't think I've ever seen that before." The score remained 28-13 after three periods, and with nothing to lose, Connor went to the air and was promptly picked off twice in the final 15 minutes. Spence carried 24 times for 121 yards and had two receptions for 46 yards, a bright spot for the Indians. Bradin Daniels fared well on special teams with six kickoff returns and one punt return for 11 yards. Daniels also led with 10 tackles and Jace O'Connor had a pair of tackles for a loss. Union City travels to Monroe Central Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff hoping to turn the tables on the Bears after a 38-0 loss at home a year ago. The last time Union City defeated Monroe Central was in the opening game of sectional play in 2012. Score by quarters Tri 14 28 28 44 Union City 6 13 13 13 Team summary PASSING TITANS – Melton 1 for 5 for 3 yards INDIANS – Connor 5 for 22 for 134 yards (1 TD, 2 INT) RUSHING TITANS – Melton 6-35; DeWitt 2-6; Brooks 12-95 (1 TD); Fredenburg 2-4; Chalfant 14-189 (4 TD); Boone 10-48 (1 TD). Totals 47-377 (6 TDs). RECEIVING INDIANS – Huggins 1-65 (1 TD); A, Spence 1-20; Emrick 1-3; T. Spence 2-46. Totals 5-134. TOTAL YARDS Tri 380, Union City 257 KICKOFFS Tri (Morrow, 7-252); Union City (Huggins 3-113). PUNTING Tri (Boone, 3-108); Union City (Connor 2-64)