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BY BOB OPPENHEIM
For Leader Publications

EDWARDSBURG — Edwardsburg’s football team gave No. 4 (Division 3) Niles everything it could handle in Friday’s Wolverine Conference game.

After being pushed to the brink by the Eddies, the Vikings dug deep late to earn a 21-12 road victory. The win gives Niles its third-straight conference title and clinches the program’s first undefeated regular season since 1979.

“It feels great,” said Niles senior running back Elijah Norris. “It feels tremendous. It was the plan all along from the beginning of the season to go 9-0 and get that three-peat conference championship. We worked hard all throughout the season, and [head coach Scot Shaw] told us that was the goal from the beginning. That was our motivation, and we used that, came into each game and worked our butts off every single time.”

Niles jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after outgaining Edwardsburg 136-27.

The Vikings also had six first downs compared to only one for the Eddies in the opening quarter.

The complete reversal took place the rest of the game, as Edwardsburg outgained Niles, 144 yards to 42, and had 11 first downs compared to only one for the Vikings.

“We didn’t know what our team was all about, necessarily, and it’s week nine” said Edwardsburg coach Dan Purlee, whose team ends the regular season 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the league.

“Our team showed us tonight. They played with a lot of heart and a lot of pride. We came off a tough loss last week (38-35 to Vicksburg), so you never know what you’re going to get. But our kids came ready to play and showed a lot of toughness. I’m proud of them for that.”

Entering Friday’s contest, the defending state runner-up (Division 4) Vikings had dominated their opponents this season and outscored them, 320-86.

Niles seemed on its way to another lopsided win on Friday after getting a one-yard touchdown run from Brandon Walsh and nine-yard scoring run form Alex Anderson in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Eddies’ best defense was their offense, as Edwardsburg had the ball for 11:05.

From the 1:14 mark of the first quarter to the 2:47 mark of the second, the Eddies drove the ball 66 yards on 17 plays.

The drive stalled at Niles’ 24, as Cameron Hayden gained only a yard on a 4th-and-5.

But the Eddies would quickly get the ball back, after Hayden picked off a pass thrown by Vikings freshman quarterback William Turnbull. Hayden got the interception at Niles’ 44 and returned it 16 yards.

Eight plays later, Edwardsburg Ryland Savoie scored on a one-yard plunge to cut Niles’ lead to 14-6 with :01 left before halftime. The extra-point was missed.

“That was ideal,” Purlee said about his team’s play in the second quarter. “You go up against a team like this you’re going to have to have some things go your way. Obviously, we pride ourselves in trying to control the football.”

The second half was a defensive struggle, as the two teams combined for only 104 yards and five first downs.

Another Turnbull interception from Hayden gave Edwardsburg the ball at Niles’ 49 with 7:52 left in the third quarter.

But the Eddies were unable to take advantage of the miscue, as the Vikings’ defense held running back Caden DeHart to a one-yard run on a 4th-and-4 at the Vikings’ 43.

On its next offensive possession Edwardsburg had great field position at Niles’ 49 after a 14-yard punt by the Vikings.

The Eddies took advantage of that field position and pulled within 14-12 after sophomore Gio Orue scored on a 24-yard run with 11:07 left in the game. The two-point conversion run failed.

What followed was a gamble by Purlee, who had his team attempt an onside kick. The Eddies’ Logan Kovach recovered the onside kick, but it was nullified after an offsides penalty was called on Edwardsburg.

Purlee could be seen on the sidelines arguing at officials about the call.

“I was not happy,” the Eddies coach said.

Edwardsburg still had chances to win the game, with their final opportunity coming on a fourth-and-four at its own 49 with 4:02 left in the game.

But the Eddies failed to convert the fourth down, as the Vikings’ Max Rucker sacked Savoie and caused a 16-yard loss.

After getting its lone first down in the second half on a 30-yard run from Elijah Norris, Niles scored three plays later on a one-yard plunge from Norris to take a 21-12 lead with :51 left in the game.

“That drive came from my frustration,” Norris said. “I was upset about how they had just driven the ball down the field on us – that was a great drive. I was angry on the sideline, pacing back and forth. So, when I went into the game on offense and we got the ball, I knew I had to make a drive and make something happen. I told my team I needed them, and I told my line I needed them to help me drive, and I drove the ball all the way up the field the best I could.”

Niles coach Scot Shaw was happy to see his team prevail in a very competitive game against its rival.

“Hard fought,” said Niles coach Scot Shaw about Friday’s game. “We had to fight tooth and nail down there with around two minutes to go to put it away.

“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively consistently. Our defense played really well. To give up only 12 points to that offense is a pretty good effort. I’m proud of everyone on our team. We finished our goal of going 9-0 and being conference champs.”

The top offensive performer for the Eddies was Orue, who rushed for 95 yards on 23 carries.

“We just kind of sputtered out offensively there towards the end,” Purlee said.

“But hats off to Niles. They’re a great team.”

Niles and Edwardsburg will learn their postseason opponents at 5 p.m. Sunday on the “Selection Sunday Show” on the NFHS Network. A subscription is not required to watch the Selection Sunday Show.

The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show, and times and dates will be added Monday, Oct. 27.

The MHSAA Football Playoffs conclude with the 11-Player Finals to be played Nov. 28 and 30 at Ford Field.

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NILES 21, EDWARDSBURG 12

Score by Quarters

Niles;14;0;0;7—;21

Edwardsburg;0;6;0;6;—12

First Quarter

N — Brandon Walsh 1 run; Ben Bruckner kick; 6:01.

N — Alex Anderson 9 run; Bruckner kick; 1:16.

Second Quarter

E — Ryland Savoie 1 run; kick failed; :01.

Fourth Quarter

E — Orue 24 run; run failed; 11:07.

N — Elijah Norris 1 run; Bruckner kick; :51.

Team Statistics

Nls;Edw

Rushing yards;129;166

Passing yards;49;5

Total yards;175;171

First downs;7;12

Fumbles-lost;1-0;2-0

Had Intercepted;2;0

Penalties;6-35;4-15

Individual statistics

Niles: Rushing — Alex Anderson 9-57, Elijah Norris 10-44. Passing — William Turnbull 3-6 (2 int.). Receiving — Brenden Olsen 2-25, Max Rucker 1-24. Sacks — Rucker.

Edwardsburg: Rushing — Gio Orue 23-95, Caden DeHart 7-29, Cameron Hayden 10-26. Passing — Codey Clarke 1-1-5, Ryland Savoie 0-3. Receiving — Hayden 1-5. Interceptions — Hayden 2.