By STEVE MORRISON
Niles Daily Star

The Niles Vikings began their 2009 football campaign with a convincing 50-15 drubbing of the visiting Coldwater Cardinals at Niles High School Friday night. Niles led after only 14 seconds had elapsed. Viking defensive back, David Garner, swiped a Cardinal fumble in mid-air, on a handoff from Coldwater quarterback Patrick Conant to Tyler Guzy and swept cleanly into the end zone to stun the visitors. Cameron Sly drove the extra point through the uprights to get Niles off and running with a 7-0 lead.

After the kickoff, the Cardinals mounted an eight-play drive to the Niles 14-yard line. Guzy had carries of 26 and 40 yards for the Cardinals to highlight the possession. On fourth and six, at the Niles 14-yard line, Coldwater’s Robert White attempted a field goal, which was snuffed by Viking Linebacker Bryan Evans.

On the first play after the turnover, Viking quarterback Sly stuck the ball into the dependable hands of running back Aaron Davis who swept around right end and sailed down the sideline for an 86 yard touchdown jaunt. The kick sailed wide, but Niles was already in the driver’s seat with a 13-0 lead with just 7:13 gone from the clock.
After stopping Coldwater cold, the Vikings went to the passing game. Some missed opportunities led to a punt. Niles defense answered the call again. Kevin Gross, Shawn Holland, Hunter Kruger, Hugh Hatcher, and Austin Parks put some hard stops on Coldwater’s ground game throughout the initial half.

After a Coldwater punt, Shawn Holland took a quick handoff from Sly and broke off right tackle for a 55-yard touchdown romp. Sly’s kick was good for a 20-0 Viking advantage.

In the second play of the second quarter, Viking back, Cal Poehlman, rammed home a 3-yard plunge for Niles after Holland’s 46 yard burst. Sly hooked up with Garner on a 48 yard pass for another six, and Sly, himself, scored on a quarterback sneak from the one yard line. In Niles’ final possession of the half, Gross galloped 33 yards for another Niles tally.

The score stood at 44-0 at the break.

A running clock was instituted by the mercy rule to begin the second half. Jordan Harmon broke the ice for Coldwater with a six yard score, and White’s kick made it 44-7.

Niles came right back with an 80-yard touchdown scamper by Ricky Briand, on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff. The core stood a 50-7 until Guzy scored a meaningless Cardinal touchdown with 1:22 to play in the game. White scored on the two-point conversion.

Niles Coach Dan Brawley had used substitutes for most of the second half in a sportsmanlike effort to keep the score reasonable.
“I thought that the kids played well today. Our playmakers made plays; the quarterback kept his poise and ran the offense well. Our defense was solid, ” Brawley assessed.

Coldwater 0 0 0 15 – 15
Niles  20 18 6 6 – 50
N – David Garner 14 fumble return (Sly kick)
N – Aaron Davis 86 run (kick failed)
N – Shawn Holland 55 run (kick Sly)
N – Poehlman 33 run (kick failed)
N – Garner 48 pass from Sly (kick blocked)
N – Sly 1 run (kick blocked)
N – Kevin Gross 33 run (kick blocked)
C – Jordan Harmon 6 run (White kick)
N – Ricky Briand 80 run (kick failed)
C – Tyler Guzy 8 run (White run)