By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Speed kills. Just ask the Niles offense.
A quick Marshall defense was able to do what no other team has done this season and that was shut down Niles running back Ben Brandstatter.
The Redhawks held Brandstatter to 86 yards on 28 carries in their 30-12 Big 16 Conference non-divisional victory Friday night.
Niles coach Dan Brawley said that nothing Marshall did surprised him and his squad. He noted that the Vikings knew coming in that the Redhawks were a good football team.
Some people may have thought that Marshall was a little down this season after opening up 1-2. The two losses for the Redhawks came at the hands of Portage Central and the St. Joseph, which Niles hosts next Friday night.
"There was no surprises there, it wasn't like we thought this was going to be a push over or anything," Brawley said. "That's a tough football team right there."
Marshall struck first as Jamar Wimberly capped off the game-opening drive with a 2-yard run. Josh Welch added the extra point to give the Redhawks a 7-0 lead with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Niles responded quickly as Seth Jordan connected with D.J. Wolnik for an 80-yard touchdown. Wolnik battled his way into the end zone to cut the lead to 7-6, after Niles the extra point was missed.
Marshall extended its lead to four points as Welch tacked on a 31-yard field goal with five minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
After turning away the Redhawks at the 2-yard line early in the second quarter, it appeared that Niles had reclaimed the momentum.
On the ensuing play, Jordan hit Paul Dreher with a pass, and as the tight end turned to go up the field Marshall popped the ball loose and ran it in for a 10-yard touchdown.
Welch's kick was good and the Redhawks owned a 17-6 lead with 10:52 to play in the first half.
Again Niles was able to rally back as they capped off a nice drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jordan to Dreher.
The Vikings (2-2) went for the 2-point conversion, but the pass fell incomplete.
Niles would get another chance to score before halftime, but were turned away by the Redhawks in the end zone by an interception.
The Vikings struggled to move the ball offensively in the second half against the speedy Marshall defense. In fact, Niles finished the second half with only 53 yards in total offense.
The Redhawks scored a touchdown in each of the final two quarters to put the game away.
Maurice Ansley, who rushed for 120 yards on 15 carries, scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter and Roberto Ayala completed the scoring with a 36-yard run in the final quarter.
Niles blocked the extra point following Ansley's touchdown, while Welch was good on the kick in the fourth quarter.
"We missed a lot of opportunities," Brawley said. "At the end of the half there, if we punch one in there at the end of the half, maybe the outcome is a little different."
Marshall finished the night with 254 yards in total offense, which was not that much different from Niles, which had 234 yards in total offense.
The Redhawks, however, played on a short field most of the night, setting up several times on the Niles side of the field.
Niles will look to bounce back next Friday night against visiting St. Joseph in the West Division opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Marshall 10 7 6 7 – 30
Niles 6 6 0 0 – 12
M – Jamar Wimberly 2 run (Josh Welch kick)
N – D.J. Wolnik 80 pass from Seth Jordan (kick failed)
M – Welch 31 field goal
M – 10 fumble return (Welch kick)
N – Paul Dreher 9 pass from Jordan (pass failed)
M – Maurice Ansley 6 run (kick blocked)
M – Roberto Ayala 36 run (Welch kick)