The Niles Ring Lardner seventh grade football team opened its season with a pair of wins over Lakeshore on its home field last night.

In the first game, after a couple of stalled drives, Niles scored on a fourth and 10 situation with quarterback Jordan Ham pitching to tailback Gabe Stokes, who handed off to flanker DeVontae Woods, who completed the double reverse with a 35 yard run.

Early in the second half, Austin Lintz scored on a 55-yard sweep to make the score 12-0 for the Ring Lardner Gold Team, whose defense never allowed Lakeshore inside our 30 yard line.

The Blue Game was a very physical and hard fought contest, with no score at all until early in the fourth quarter.

Lakeshore’s tailback dove through the line and went all the way for 40 yards to score, but the Niles Blue defense stood tough on the extra point run attempt and stuffed it cold. After receiving the kick, quarterback Sean Craig gained 40 yards on a keeper down to the Lakeshore 15-yard line.

Quarterback Adam Langmeyer then directed a six play drive with, tailback Raquon Glenn and fullback Alex Bata taking turns smashing the ball a few yards at a time down  to the Lakeshore 2- yard line, when Bata rammed it home for the touchdown with three minutes left in the game.

Craig’s extra point kick was good, making the score 7-6.

Following John Hampton’s deep kickoff, the Viking defense held Lakeshore on four downs, took over the ball and ran out the clock for the victory.