RIMERSBURG - Playing football on a Friday night is only one part of Colton Davis' job description for the Union High School football team.

On the field, he's the team's leading rusher, but behind the scenes, he is one of the team leaders, a recruiter, a cheerleader and a sometimes chauffeur all rolled into a tidy 5-foot-10, 180-pound package.

Things haven't been easy for Davis or his Golden Knights teammates this season.

The program almost folded before the season even started because the roster is paper-thin. It took Union one month and 24 quarters before it cracked the scoreboard for the first time on a 64-yard touchdown run by Davis.

Even as the 0-8 Golden Knights take on Karns City tonight, the team has been outscored 368-55.

"Yeah, it's been tough," Davis said. "When we went into the season, we knew we wouldn't have the numbers. We knew we were working for next year."

Davis said Union almost didn't play a varsity schedule this season. It was kicking around the idea of playing a junior varsity schedule until the number of players increased.

But thanks to the cries of players like Davis and the coaching staff, Union played a varsity schedule, despite having just a little more than 20 players and only two seniors.

"I told the guys, 'Don't get down,'" Davis said. "'We're playing at the varsity level and we're going to know what it is like next year. We're playing for next year.'"

Davis' words were heeded. Despite the lopsided scores and the poor showings, particularly early in the campaign, when it came time to vote to play a 10th game against Lakeview, no one showed signs of declining.

"We all still want to play," Davis said. "As tough as it has been, no one has gone downhill."

Davis didn't flinch, either, when running room was scarce and yardage hard to come by at the beginning of the season.

The junior started the year at fullback and now plays halfback in Union's power-I set.

He rushed for 103 yards on 17 carries last week in a 46-25 loss to Kennedy Catholic and has gained 463 yards on 87 carries this season as one of the lone Golden Knights with healthy offensive numbers.

"At the beginning of the season, I had to fight for my yards," Davis said. "It was, 'OK, Colton, lower your shoulder and get what you can because we need it.'"

But recently, the offensive line, now with senior Nate Carmichael among its ranks, has opened some running room for Davis.

"Colton is having a great season," said Union coach Tom Kidder. "He's running behind a line with freshmen and sophomores. It's just a tribute to hi work ethic in the offseason."

Davis felt lonely this summer in the Union weight room - a feeling he hopes to change.

Davis, who hopes to add bulk to his frame before next season, was one of the few football players to be a regular in the weight room in the summer months. He even offered to drive any teammate who wanted to work out to the weight room.

"We need to get the guys in the weight room," Davis said. "This summer, I went to lift, and the only guy in there with me was Matt Bliss, and he graduated three years ago."

Davis' call has been heard during the season. He can see a marked improvement in the team's strength as the season has gone along.

It has shown up in the stat book, particularly in the case of quarterback Josh Holden, who threw two long touchdown passes last week.

"I look around and a lot of guys are getting stronger," Davis said. "Our quarterback (Holden) - his arm strength is getting a lot better. He threw a long pass and I was like, 'Are we giving him steroids or something?' It was a heck of a throw."

Once this season is over, Davis will put on his recruiting hat.

He already has been on the warpath in school, approaching friends and classmates who weren't one of the 22 on the Union roster this year, trying to get them to put on the pads for the Golden Knights next year.

Helping Davis in his cause is the fact Kidder will be back next season.

"I'm glad they re-hired him," Davis said.