By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC - Lyle Watson rushed for 98 yards on 26 carries and scored four touchdowns as the Niles Vikings crushed host Dowagiac, 39-0, at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field.
Watson scored on runs of 2-, 1-, 5- and 1-yard as the Vikings picked up their second victory of the season and their 49th all-time against Dowagiac.
Friday night's Big 16 Conference West Division match up was the 101st meeting between the Vikings and Chieftains.
In a game that featured two teams with sup-par records, it was the Vikings that put it all together Friday night and walked away from the field with a convincing victory.
Niles set the tone on its first offensive possession and kept Dowagiac off balance all night with a combination of running and passing.
Led by Watson and Paul Bella, the Vikings rushed for 252 yards.
Bella added 82 yards for Niles on 13 carries.
Vikings quarterback Nick Etzcorn also had a big night as he was 9-of-11 for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Etzcorn connected with Paul Wregglesworth with a 20-yard touchdown pass.
Backup quarterback Jake Messner also threw a touchdown pass as he hit Nicholas Johnson with a 22-yard scoring strike.
Niles misfired on its first three extra point attempts, but Cory Coquillard hit the last three PATs.
Niles led 6-0 after one quarter and 25-0 at halftime.
The Vikings instituted the running clock in the third quarter with two touchdowns.
Niles' defense also turned in a stellar performance against the Chieftains.
Dowagiac was held to 47 yards rushing and 48 yards passing.
Jason Rutkowski picked off a Chieftain pass for the game's only turnover.
Niles 6 19 14 0 - 39
Dowagiac 0 0 0 0 - 0
Lyle Watson (N) 2-yard run (kick failed)
Watson (N) 1-yard run (pass failed)
Paul Wregglesworth (N) 20-yard pass from Nick Etzcorn (kick failed)
Watson (N) 5-yard run (Cory Coquillard kick)
Watson (N) 1-yard run (Coquillard kick)
Nicholas Johnson (N) 22-yard pass from Jake Messner (Coquillard kick)