Sports

Huskies mush to victory

By SCOTT NOVAK /Niles Daily Star
Saturday, October 4, 2008 12:32 AM EDT

NILES - Most everyone in attendance at Homecoming Friday night expected visiting Portage Northern to wing the ball all over the field.

Vikings' running back Shawn Holland gets set to make a cut against the Portage Northern defense. The Huskies spoiled Niles' Homecoming by defeating the Vikings 23-14.

The Huskies threw the ball 19 times in the contest, but it was its running game that did most of the damage in a 23-14 victory over Niles.

Portage Northern (4-2) got a 69-yard touchdown run from Antonio Hutchins to open the second half and forge a 14-14 tie with the Vikings, who had grabbed the momentum heading into the locker room with a late first half score.

The game turned in favor of the Huskies, who worked on keeping the ball away from the Niles offense with a good blend of running and passing.

Huskies quarterback Jack Livingston tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Hutchins to give Portage Northern at 21-14 lead with 11:03 to play in the game

A safety midway through the fourth quarter accounted for the final two points for Portage Northern.

"It was a tale of two halves," sighed Niles coach Dan Brawley following the game. "We didn't move the ball well in the second half, again. We had opportunities too. We missed a big fade pattern here and there were a couple other opportunities as well."

Niles got on the scoreboard first when Andrew Brawley hooked up with David Garner on a 26-yard touchdown pass that capped a 61-yard drive that ate up 7:55 off the clock.

The score remained 7-0 until there was just 1:35 to play in the first half.

Livingston hooked up with Will Chrystal on a 28-yard touchdown toss to knot the score at 7-7.

Niles responded with a six play, 70-yard scoring drive to take a 14-7 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

Brawley hit Asaad Ali with a 16-yard scoring strike and Colin Freas hit the extra point to put the Vikings on top.

But in the second half, Niles could not move the ball effectively.

In fact, the Vikings had minus 18 yards on the ground in the final two quarters.

Had it not been for a late Brawley to Myles Busby 34-yard pass, Niles would have ended up with negative yardage in the second half.

As it was, the Vikings only managed 56 yards on the ground.

Brawley had a big night through the air as he went 10-of-19 for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Livingston, who was 17-of-33 last week for 225 yards, managed to complete 11-of-19 attempts for 108 yards.

The Huskies ran for another 114 yards, led by Hutchins, who finished the night with 120 yards.

Niles drops to 2-4 with the loss.

The Vikings head to Mattawan next week as they return to Big 16 Conference West Division play.

Portage Northern 0 7 7 9 - 23

Niles 7 7 0 0 - 14

N - David Garner 26 pass from Andrew Brawley (Colin Freas kick)

PN - Will Chrystal 28 pass from Jack Livington (Billy Cremeans)

N - Asaad Ali 16 pass from Brawley (Freas kick)

PN - Antonio Hutchins 69 run (Cremeans kick)

PN - Hutchins 15 pass from Livingston (Cremeans kick)

PN - Safety (Niles tackled in end zone)

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