By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Junior Nick Etzcorn had one of the best all-around performances Niles football coach Dave Janicki said he's ever seen Friday against Harper Creek.
Etzcorn started at tight end and caught two passes for 33 yards and a touchdown. Not a bad night for a tight end.
But when starting quarterback Jason Rutkowske went down in the second quarter with a badly sprained thumb, Etzcorn stepped in at quarterback and stepped up his play.
He completed 13-of-19 passes for 144 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
While Etzcorn's relief performance couldn't get Niles a victory, it did earn him Niles Daily Star Boys' Athlete of the Week honors for the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 2.
Though the Vikings lost 34-27, the damage would have been much worse had it not been for Etzcorn.
He guided Niles to two scoring drives in the final five minutes and had fans and players thinking of a comeback. His two-play, 16-second drive with less than a minute remaining, capped by Etzcorn's 22-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Anglin, brought the Vikings within one score with 27 seconds remaining.
Janicki was so impressed with Etzcorn's performance, that he named him the starting quarterback for Friday's game, regardless of Rutkowske's injury status.
Etzcorn will try to repeat his performance and help get Niles its first victory of the season when the Vikings travel to Battle Creek Central on Friday.