Warren Smith’s interception with 48 seconds left secured a 27-21 win by Niles’ football team over St. Joseph Friday and it ended two Viking droughts.

Improving to 5-2, Niles clinched its first winning season since 2003 and the Vikings snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Bears.

“It gets us past mediocrity and the feeling that we’re not suppose to beat the St. Joseph’s of the world,” Niles football coach Antwon Jones said. “It lets people know that these Niles’ kids are special too.

“You could feel it when we came out for warm-ups that something special was going to happen tonight. This is a family and we believe in each other. I’m just proud of them.”

Niles took the lead for good at 27-21 with 9:17 left in the game when Alex Harpenau tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Ra’Quon Glenn. The touchdown came on 4th-and-4 and it was the second fourth down conversion on the 63-yard drive for the Vikings.

Harpenau completed 16-of-29 passes for 172 yards with two touchdowns. Glenn caught 11 passes for 112 yards with two touchdowns.

“Our offense responded when it needed to,” Jones said.

St. Joseph, which trailed 21-7 with 8:26 left in the second quarter, battled back to tie the game at 21 after getting a 33-yard touchdown pass from Cullen Hoffman to Domoneke Mitchell with :44 left in the third quarter.

With 1:41 left in the game, St. Joseph’s Jacob Rynberg blocked a Niles punt and the Bears took over at Niles’ 39-yard line.

The Bears drove to the Vikings’ eight-yard line before Smith’s interception at Niles’ two-yard line. The Vikings then ran out the clock with St. Joseph having no timeouts left.

“We were just playing a ‘cover-4’ and the defense played solid all night,” Jones said about his team’s final defensive play. “It was a great effort.

“Everyone of our defensive backs play wide receiver and to play wide receiver you have to be able to catch the ball.”

Niles quarterback Joe Avance had touchdown runs of nine and 78 yards.

The Vikings host Gull Lake for Homecoming Friday night with a spot in the post season on the line.

 

St. Joseph 0 10 11 0 — 21

Niles 7 14 0 6 — 27

N – Joe Avance 9 run (Jason Echeverria kick)

N – Ra’Quon Glenn 4 pass from Alex Harpenau (Harpenau run)

S – Cullen Hoffman 1 run (Hoffman kick)

N – Avance 78 run (kick failed)

S – Hoffman 42 field goal

S – Hoffman 41 field goal

S – Domoneke Mitchell 33 pass from Hoffman (Sam McCoy run)

N – Glenn 7 pass from Harpenau (kick failed)