A scouting report on Niles football player Dayton Smith better include strong hands.

Those hands make Smith a formidable opponent as a wrestler and last Saturday, He was a magnet for the football as he recovered three Portage Northern fumbles.

“I’ve been going out there and playing aggressively,” said Smith, who played outside linebacker against the Huskies. “I want to play for my brothers out there on the field. I wanted to play my heart out for the seniors, being it was Senior Day.”

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound sophomore wished his strong day led to a better result on the scoreboard as Portage Northern beat Niles, 53-27.

The Vikings dropped to 0-4 with the loss. But Smith’s play and a competitive first half were positives for Niles, which trailed, 26-21, at halftime. The Vikings led for the first time this season after Cameron Haines scored on a seven-yard run to give Niles a 14-13 lead with 9:04 left in the second quarter.

Smith’s second fumble recovery set up Haines’ touchdown. Portage Northern once led 13-0.

Smith has an explanation why the team continues to fight, despite the rough start.

“Yeah, I go home and think about the season, but it really helps to have teammates who are like brothers,” Smith said. “We preach brotherhood a lot here. We’re a team. We always work to improve and we pick each other up when we’re down.”

Smith refused to stay down against Portage Northern when his team trailed 46-27 in the fourth quarter. With the Huskies in position to score again at Niles’ 22-yard line, the sophomore ball-hawk recovered his third fumble of the game.

“My teammates are telling me that I’m doing a lot for our defense right now,” Smith said. “I’m just giving it my all.”

Smith also was playing for an injured teammates against Portage Northern. Running back Joe Avance was taken off on a stretcher early in the third quarter after suffering a neck injury.

“I really care for him,” Smith said about Avance. “Knowing he’s a star player on our team it’s really sad knowing we might not have him next week. He’s an impact player. He also does other great things for our team, like lead our team prayer. It hurts not seeing him able to play since it’s his senior year.”

Smith, who played wide receiver, defensive end and linebacker as a freshman on the junior varsity, feels his role on the varsity will increase in the future.

“I’m slowly working my way into the offense at running back,” Smith said. “When coach needs someone to block I go in to play running back. I feel like in my later years, maybe, I can make a bigger impact on offense depending on how I grow.”

Smith thinks being a wrestler will help him develop into a better football player.

“Wrestling helps you get stronger and it helps your stamina,” Smith said. “I’m also able to work out more during wrestling season.”