By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Niles and Kalamazoo Central will meet on the field tonight for the first time in five years.
When the two teams last got together in 2000, the Giants walked away with a 43-7 win. Five years later, the team is looking better than they did then.
Although the Giants lost many of their starters last year and don't quite have the size, it's their speed and amount of athletic ability that other teams, like Niles, will have to look out for.
With one of the toughest schedules in the state of Michigan, Niles is going to have to be strong on defense, especially against running back Craig Wimbley, who rushed close to 1,400 yards and scored 20 touchdowns last year.
Niles will be looking for its senior leadership and the entire field to lead the way tonight.
Senior Nick Etzcorn will be stepping in at tight end and split end rather than his quarterback position and seniors Nate Parks, Rick Storm, Lyle Watson, Tom Robson, Pete Brandstatter and many more hope to help Niles see a victory tonight.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Kalamazoo Central High School.
Brandywine at Lawrence
When Brandywine and Lawrence met last season, it was a cold, rainy night and a very young, inexperienced Bobcat football team suffered a 25-0 loss to the Tigers.
Tonight may be a different story as the weather will be perfect and second year head coach Terry Borr returns experienced players with much more athletic ability.
Last year, Brandywine only returned three lettermen, this season, 12 return and are looking to clear up Brandywine's bruised reputation and hope to start tonight with a win over Lawrence.
In an earlier interview, coach Borr said returning offensive lineman Derek Mankowski should come out strong for the Bobcats.
Senior Brian Westveer and sophomore Joel Perry are the Bobcat's two strong quarterbacks and junior Matt Duckett has improved a lot at running back since last season.
Kick off time is set for 7 p.m. at Lawrence.