Fifth-grade twister Chris Rivers tackles Hurricane running back Cooper Karlin during their season-opening game Sunday at Youth Sports Inc.

While the pros took to the football field in earnest on Sunday, a smaller version of gridiron Americana did the same in Lawrence.

Players, parents and coaches filled the sidelines at Youth Sports Inc. as Lawrence Youth Football kicked off its regular season with 26 teams, 13 games and a positive tone.

“It was a good all around day,” Bret Toelkes, Lawrence Youth Football coach and director, said. “We didn’t have one unsportsmanlike incident, no injuries and the weather was great. It was one of those rare days when everything went just right.”

Sunday’s games included the participation of three teams from Topeka, which Toelkes said was important for the day’s success.

“All of the coaches from the Topeka teams had nothing but good things to say,” Toelkes said. “We like to treat them well and give them the opportunity to play. And hopefully when they go back they’ll tell people what we’re doing.”

What goes on during LYF’s opening day, positive or negative, can have an impact on the weeks to follow, adding extra importance to the first day’s preparation.

“We gear towards everything going right this first day,” Toelkes said. “So it very much does have an effect on the rest of season if something goes wrong,”

The league continues its games until mid-October and will then have a round of playoffs near the end of the month. LYF’s season will conlclude with the Oct. 28 Toy Bowl.