Key injuries may give Vikings trouble tonight
Published 5:59 pm Friday, September 2, 2005
By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - With two key players injuried heading into tonight's game between Niles and Battle Creek Harper Creek, head coach Dave Janicki said his entire team is going to have to step up if the Vikings want a chance at walking away with a victory.
Seniors Pete Brandstatter and Lyle Watson will be watching their team from the sidelines tonight.
Brandstatter is nursing a knee injury that will keep him out anywhere from four to six weeks and Watson has a deep thigh bruise.
Despite the injuries, Janicki said his team is still very healthy both offensively and defensively, but they are going to have to come out quick and control the ball like they did last week against Kalamazoo Central.
"We're going to have to put the ball in the air more than we did last week and keep the clock running," Janicki said. "We always need to keep the ball out of their hands as much as we can. They are a very tough team with a lot of returning seniors. They have around 55 kids in 11th and 12th grades. They're loaded," Janicki added.
Last year, Niles fell to Harper Creek 27-22 and the year before that it was Niles who took the win, so the series is tied 1-1 heading into tonight's game.
Kick off time is set for 7:30 p.m.