Update: Niles wins in Sassano debut
Published 5:13 pm Saturday, August 27, 2016
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK
New Niles football coach Joe Sassano knows that in order to be successful, he and his staff are going to have to change the culture of the Vikings’ program.
If Friday night’s 40-19 win over visiting Kalamazoo Loy Norrix is any indication, Niles took a good first step.
But there is still a long way to go and there are bigger fish to fry down the road for the Vikings as their schedule gets tougher each and every week.
Sassano said that in order to be a better football team, Niles needs to be more balanced.
That means balanced on offense by running the ball, as well as throwing it, and counting on its defense and special teams to contribute as well.
And although it was not pretty at times, all the phases came together as the Vikings opened the 2016 campaign with a victory over a team that beat them 55-33 last season.
“I thought we ran the ball fairly well, and our defense had a good game plan and they really got after it,” Sassano said. “I’m really happy for the win but I’m not happy with the cleanliness of the game. We have so many things to work on. I’m going to sleep on it and then we’ll start breaking things down one-by-one.”
The win was highlighted by a stingy defense, which allowed just one touchdown with the starters on the field and a running game that was virtually non-existent last season.
Mitch Findeisen spearheaded the ground game as he rushed for 102 yards in the opening half and finished with 117 yards.
Findeisen scored a pair of touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving.
Cameron Haines added 84 yards, which included a 65-yard pass reception from quarterback Alex Harpenau, who finished the night 7-of-18 for 167 yards and a pair of interceptions, both of which were in the end zone.
Findeisen said there is a noticeable difference between last year and this season.
“It feels great to be out here,” he said. “I feel like we are playing for a reason this year.”
And what about the fact that the Vikings are running the ball more this season?
“I am loving it,” Findeisen said. “Our line is phenomenal. They are getting to their blocks and they are always getting down field creating holes for us.”
Sassano likes the way Findeisen approached the game, but wants to make sure that his enthusiasm is harnessed.
“There is no fear in him whatsoever,” he said. “That is the positive, but you have to control it and make sure your body is under control. His motor is always going 100 mph and he is going to give you every ounce of energy that he has got.”
Loy Norrix’s lone score against the starters came in the opening quarter when Lee Jones got behind the Niles defense and ran untouched 76 yards to give the Knights a 7-6 advantage.
The Vikings scored twice in the second quarter to take control of the game as Skiler Farmer found the end zone from seven yards out and Findeisen caught a 23-yard pass from Harpenau to make it 21-7 at halftime.
Three unanswered touchdowns in the third and four quarter gave Niles a 40-7 lead before Loy Norrix scored twice in the final six minutes of the contest.
The Vikings finished the night with 223 yards rushing, while the Knights had 156 yards. Loy Norrix also passed for another 122 yards, as Cam Wilke-Flowers was 5-of-12 with an interception.
Niles gets back to work as it prepares for its away game with Mattawan Thursday night.
NILES 40, LOY NORRIX 19
At Niles
Loy Norrix 7 0 0 12 – 19
Niles 6 15 6 13 – 40
N – Mitch Findeisen 1 run (run failed).
LN – Lee Jones 76 pass from Cam Wilke-Flowers (Sebastian Hassan kick).
N – Skiler Farmer 7 run (Jacob Hamm pass from Alex Harpenau).
N – Mitch Findeisen 23 pass from Alex Harpenau (Brenden Hall kick).
N – Cameron Haines 65 pass from Alex Harpenau (kick failed).
N – Alex Harpenau 1 run (kick failed).
N – Issac Arriaga 8 fumble recovery (Josiah Rohl kick).
LN – Derrel Mabon 5 run (run failed).
LN – Randy Smith 50 yard punt return (run failed).
Varsity records: Niles 1-0, Loy Norrix 0-1.
