By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Niles head coach Dave Janicki has seen his football team put together four straight quarters of good football this season - just not in the same game.
If the Vikings hope to beat Marshall, the SMAC's highest scoring team, on Friday, they will have to play well consistently throughout the entire game.
Coming off a loss in which Niles scored its lowest point total of the season, a 34-7 setback against Benton Harbor, the Vikings travel to Marshall Friday to take on Marshall, who averaged 38 points per game.
The Chiefs (5-1, 2-0) are led by senior quarterback Evan Sharpley, who Janicki said is one of the best quarterbacks, not only in Michigan, but in the nation.
Sharpley has verbally committed to play football for Notre Dame next season.
Though he's still disappointed with Niles' 1-5 record, 0-2 in conference, Janicki said he can see his team improving. The Vikings now just need to pull all the pieces together and play a complete game, he said.
The Vikings will have their hands full on defense, not only because of Evan Sharpley's arm, but because of Marshall's size. The Chiefs have 16 players on their roster that weight 200 pounds or more.
Despite Niles' 1-5 record, the Vikings are still trying to earn their first victory on the field.
After falling to Benton Harbor, they dropped to 0-6, but the MHSAA discovered over the weekend that Battle Creek Lakeview used an eligible this season and had to forfeit four games.
One of those games was a 48-20 victory over Niles on Sept. 17. Janicki said he doesn't put any stock in the win by forfeit because the Vikings still lost to Lakeview on the field.