SULLIVAN - They did it. Not real pretty, but they did it. The Sullivan varsity Eagles beat Park Hills Central (3A) Friday night 14-3 before a huge crowd waiting and cheering the home team on to a so-far perfect 5-0 season. With plenty of tailgaters and even the heralded nearly perfect 1973 Eagles football team in attendance, the night was one of defense.

"It was quite a game," said Head Coach Pat Burke shortly after his team beat the 3-1 Park Hills team - a team that the Eagles knew....

SULLIVAN - Not in their lifetime. That's how long it's been since an SHS varsity football player walked on a field with a 4-0 record. But under Friday night lights shining on the home field, Coach Pat Burke and his team of Eagles will try to do what their 1986 predecessors did - take it to five wins, no losses. And this against a team they know very little about - Park Hills.

"We trade tapes and we'll study them," Coach Burke told the Sullivan Journal after his final class of the day on Thursday. "Park Hills is three and one and they're a solid team." Any worries about staining a perfect record? Not really, says Burke, confident that his 18 seniors and full team will remain dedicated to the game - that is, one game at a time.

"We've talked about this all week," Burke said. "We focus on the game of the week and we keep doing what we've been doing." Nothing more, nothing less. And so far, it's....

SULLIVAN - After a lengthy discussion concerning the raising of sewer/water rates, the aldermanic vote ended with a 3-3 tie. Without delay, Mayor James K. Schatz passed an ordinance raising sewer/water rates next month by a combined 80 percent. Sewer rates are being increased because of debt service caused by the construction of a new treatment plant and water rates. One life-long city.....

SULLIVAN - Even Baby Boomers are wondering how long it's been. But it really doesn't matter. The fact after Friday night's game is that the Eagles are now 3-0 with a decisive, but not easy, 29-10 win over the St. Clair Bulldogs. With 355 offensive yards and 16 first downs, the next stop at 4-A North County seems like 4-0 is a reality, not a dream.

Although Chris Frye's impressive 169 yards helped.....