ST. JOSEPH – A 27-point second quarter ended any chance of a Niles upset on homecoming night in St. Joseph Friday.

The Bears led just 7-0 when it erupted for 27 points en route to a 55-26 Big 16 West Division victory over the Vikings.

The St. Joe (5-0) lead grew to 48-7 after three quarters before Niles scored three fourth quarter touchdowns.

The Bears rolled up 343 yards on the ground and another 88 through the air, while Niles passed for 298 yards and rushed for 139 yards.

Warren Smith hauled in a pair of touchdown passes, while Darek Bullock-Mills scored on a 7-yard pass from Sean Craig and threw both TD passes to Smith.

Smith finished with 113 yards receiving on seven receptions.

 

Niles 0 7 0 19 – 26

St. Joe 7 27 14 7 – 55

SJ – Jack Turak 5 run (Cullen Hoffman kick)

SJ – Justin Gambrell 41 run (Hoffman kick)

SJ — Connor Hubble 8 pass from AJ Montoya (Hoffman kick)

SJ – Montoya 54 run (kick failed)

N – Darek Bullock-Mills 7 pass from Sean Craig (Jaycee Myer kick)

SJ – Terill Wilburn 17 run (Hoffman kick)

SJ – Mason Shinrock 31 interception return (Hoffman kick)

SJ – Derek Burton 37 run (Jorge Cantu kick)

N – Warren Smith 9 pass from Bullock-Mills (Myer kick)

N – Ra’Quon Glenn 77 run (kick failed)

SJ – Burton 27 run (Logan Jones kick)

N – Smith 63 pass from Bullock-Mills (kick failed)