NILES’ GARDNER RED HOT IN WIN OVER WARRIORS
Niles, OH- In a 1st round playoff matchup, the Niles Red Dragons came out on top with a resounding victory over the Edgewood Warriors, with a final score of 65-28. The Red Dragons, now boasting a 7-4 record, advance to the second round of the OHSAA playoffs, where they’ll face off against the formidable Mentor Lake Catholic Cougars, who hold a 9-2 record. Unfortunately for the Edgewood Warriors, their season has come to an end following this loss, concluding with a 6-5 record.
The star of the game was undoubtedly Niles’ standout running back, Antuan Gardner, who had a record-breaking performance. Gardner carried the team on his back, rushing for an astounding 471 yards and scoring an incredible 6 touchdowns. His performance ranks among the best in Ohio high school football history, landing him as the 11th all-time leading rusher in the state. Gardner’s incredible feat will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.
The game itself was a rollercoaster of excitement, with both teams showcasing their offensive prowess. It began with an early hiccup for Niles as Gardner fumbled, and Edgewood capitalized, recovering the ball on the 5-yard line. This mistake led to Edgewood’s first touchdown, a 2-yard pass from Tony Hall to Jacob Ernst. The ensuing extra point by Samuel Linder was good, putting Edgewood ahead 7-0.
However, Niles quickly rebounded with Antuan Gardner leading the way. Gardner scored two 6-yard touchdowns in quick succession, both accompanied by successful extra point attempts, swinging the score to 14-7 in favor of Niles. In the second quarter, Gardner continued to dominate, breaking free for a 44-yard touchdown run, extending Niles’ lead to 21-7.
Edgewood wasn’t backing down, with Tony Hall and Jacob Ernst connecting again for a 2-yard touchdown pass, but Niles’ Anthony Budak answered with a spectacular 60-yard pass to Joe Smith for another Red Dragons touchdown. The score was now 28-14.
As the game progressed, both teams continued to put points on the board. Edgewood’s Tony Hall threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Hunt, while Niles’ Anthony Georgalas nailed a 37-yard field goal, making it 28-45 in Niles’ favor. Antuan Gardner continued to impress, scoring a 1-yard touchdown run and setting a new school record in the process.
The game reached its climax with Niles dominating the third quarter, sealing their victory with a 63-yard touchdown run by Donte Williams and a spectacular 82-yard touchdown run by Gardner. The final score stood at 65-28, securing Niles’ spot in the next round of the playoffs and etching Gardner’s name into the annals of both Niles and Ohio high school football history with 471 yards.
It was a memorable game for the Niles Red Dragons, and their fans will be eagerly anticipating their upcoming clash with the Mentor Lake Catholic Cougars in the next round of the playoffs.
