MATTAWAN — Sean Craig scored on a 1-yard run with 13 seconds to play to lift Niles to a 34-27 come-from-behind victory over Mattawan Saturday afternoon.

Alex Harpenau thew the 2-point conversion pass to Ra’Quon Glenn.

The Vikings (2-0) and Wildcats (0-2) were completing Friday night’s game, which was halted by thunderstorms.

Niles trailed 24-7 at halftime, but outscored Mattawan 27-3 in the second half to pull out the victory.

The lone Wildcat points of the second half came on a 37-yard George Tatchell 37-yard field goal with 1:25 to play to tie the game at 27-27.

The Vikings moved the ball down the field for the winning touchdown after starting at its own 45-yard line.

Niles covered the 55 yards in seven plays, the biggest being Harpenau’s 32-yard pass to Warren Smith to set up the winning play.

Niles moved the ball primarily through the air during the contest as Harpenau was 18-of-27 for 347 yards and two touchdowns and Avance 1-of-7 for 30 yards and a score.

The Vikings’ leading rusher was Glenn, who finished with 16 yards on three carries. Niles rushed for just 46 yards in the contest.

Avance and Smith both had big games receiving. Avance had 104 yards on four receptions and Smith 170 yards on six catches. Glenn added 83 yards on seven receptions.

Sean Craig led the defense with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops. David Kennedy and Smith had nine and eight and a half tackles respectively.

Niles will open up the home portion of its schedule against Benton Harbor Friday night.

 

Niles                   7          0          13       14 — 34

Mattawan       14       10       0          3 — 27

M – Logan Buchler 57 run (George Tatchell kick)

N – Warren Smith 60 pass from Alex Harpenau (Joshua Dayhuf kick)

M – Buchler 23 pass from Parker Curtis (Tachell kick)

M – Tatchell 40 field goal

M – Seger Sabo-chopp 2 run (Tatchell kick)

N – Ra’Quon Glenn 7 run (Dayhuff kick)

N – Joe Avance 62 pass from Harpenau (kick failed)

N – Glenn 30 pass from Avance (kick failed)

M – Tatchell 37 field goal

N – Sean Craig 1 run (Glenn pass from Harpenau)