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NILES — The back of the Niles football team’s official t-shirts for this season has one word and six numbers.
“Team 130” across the top. “7-2-1-1-1” below it. It’s the 130th season of Vikings football, and they’re hoping to add a seventh playoff appearance, second district title and first regional, state semifinal and state championship to the program’s history.
After what team 129 did last year, there’s optimism it can happen.
Niles had arguably its best season ever in 2023, going 10-2 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the Wolverine Conference. They won its first ever MHSAA district championship before a bitter 21-14 loss to Portland in a Division 4 regional final brought the Vikings’ season to an abrupt end.
With several key figures back from last year’s team, expectations have never been higher for Niles football. While most of the Michigan high school season begins Thursday, the Vikings’ season opener isn’t until Friday at Saint Joseph (Mich.).
“It’s possible I think,” Niles head coach Scot Shaw said. “We’ve had some good work in the winter and the summer. We have a lot of kids back that got a taste of it, but would enjoy getting back to it. … I’ve always said that winning the first championship in anything is easy – it’s the second that’s hard. We’re not going to sneak up on anybody.”
High school football: Complete coverage of the 2024 season in the South Bend area
For Niles, running the football is paramount. They totaled more than 4,200 rushing yards last year, and the individual leader in that category – senior Paul Hess III – returns after accumulating 1,252 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns a season ago. Other key rushers back are seniors Sam Rucker and Peyton Gordon.
Niles’ Peyton Gordon runs the ball during the Niles vs. Paw Paw football game Friday, Oct. 20,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mhsaa-2024-football-preview-niles-081056846.html
Author : South Bend Tribune
Publish date : 2024-08-29 08:10:56
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