RED DRAGONS ROLL THE BEAVERS
EAST LIVERPOOL, OH – It was a beautiful Friday night under the stadium lights as the Niles Red Dragons took on the Beaver Local Beavers in a thrilling high school football matchup. Both teams had been preparing for this game for weeks, and the excitement in the air was palpable.
The game began with the Beavers wasting no time making their presence felt. Quarterback Austin Cline took the snap, dropped back, and scanned the field for an open receiver. His eyes locked onto Keaton Heddleston, who had managed to slip behind the Red Dragons defense. With a quick flick of his wrist, Cline launched a perfectly spiraling pass that found Heddleston in stride. Keaton Heddleston raced down the field, and with a burst of speed, he reached the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, and Beaver Local took an early 7-0 lead at 10:34 in the first quarter.
The Niles Red Dragons were not to be outdone. They responded with a powerful drive led by their star running back, Anthony Budak. Budak bulldozed his way through the Beavers’ defense, eventually capping the drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown at 4:11. The Red Dragons’ extra point attempt was no good, but they closed the gap to 7-6.
The Niles Red Dragons quickly struck again. On their next possession, Anthony Budak showcased his versatility by throwing a 34-yard touchdown pass to Kris Hrosae, who made a spectacular catch in the end zone. With the extra point, Niles took a 13-7 lead with 1:40 left in the first quarter.
The second quarter belonged entirely to Niles. Running back Antuan Gardner took over, scoring two rushing touchdowns in quick succession. The first was a 19-yard scamper at 7:44, followed by a 4-yard plunge into the end zone at 6:30. With each touchdown, Niles extended their lead, now ahead 28-7.
The Red Dragons weren’t finished yet. Joseph Smith added his name to the list of Niles scorers with a 15-yard rushing touchdown at 6:07 in the second quarter. The Beaver Local defense struggled to contain the relentless Niles offensive onslaught. With the extra point, Niles took a commanding 35-7 lead.
Just before halftime, Anthony Budak connected with Nathan Coots on a 60-yard bomb, adding another touchdown to Niles’ tally. The Red Dragons went into halftime with a commanding 42-7 lead.
In the third quarter, Antuan Gardner continued to shine, breaking free for a stunning 65-yard rushing touchdown at 10:55. Niles now led 49-7.
The Beaver Local Beavers showed their resilience by scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Brayden Hall punched in a 5-yard rushing touchdown at 1:41, bringing the final score to 49-14 in favor of the Niles Red Dragons.
It was a night of high-scoring action, with the Niles Red Dragons emerging as the dominant force on the field. Their offense, led by Anthony Budak and Antuan Gardner, put on a show for the fans, while the defense held strong against the Beaver Local Beavers. As the final whistle blew, the Red Dragons celebrated their impressive victory, knowing that they had left an indelible mark on the field that night.
