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NILES — And then there were four.

The Niles football team is one of just four teams remaining in the hunt for the 2024 Division 4 state championship. Standing in their way is Grand Rapids South Christian (8-4), a perennial power aiming to win its second state championship in three years. The game takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Three Rivers High School.

If the Vikings (11-1) are going to make it to Ford Field, they will have to contain senior quarterback Carson Vis. The 6-4, 190-pound Western Michigan University basketball commit is a dual-threat playmaker with more than 1,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing on the season. 

Vis led the Sailors to a 28-21 victory over the Whitehall Vikings last week.

“He’s a good athlete,” said Niles Head Coach Scot Shaw. “He’s a good quarterback. The thing about him is he extends plays and makes plays that aren’t on script. He’s a good runner, a good thrower and just a good football player. I think we just have to contain him offensively. I think the key for us is to own the line of scrimmage, get drives going and finish them at the end.”

Niles’ Ward Cheney has emerged as one of the team’s best defenders this season. The junior has 66 tackles on the season and three sacks, both good for second on the team. Cheney said the defense is preparing to slow Vis down and prevent him from getting the ball to his favorite targets – 6-6 tight end Tyler Brinks, 6-1 receiver Charlie DeHaan and 6-1 receiver Owen Burgess.

“He’s really good at throwing on the run, really elusive,” added junior Ward Cheney. “We just have to do our jobs. Our line has to do their jobs and fill their holes, linebackers have to keep the box, DB’s got the wide receivers. Everyone has to do their own little thing.”

“He’s a good quarterback but we basically just have to lock them down on the pass and shut down the run,” added senior lineman Dane Asmus, who has 35 tackles on the season. “If we do that and everybody does their jobs, we’ll be just fine.”

For Cheney, Asmus and the rest of the team, playing assignment football and lifting each other up has allowed the team to be successful this season.

“Everyone is doing their job and sticking to what they do,” Cheney said. “Nobody’s being selfish with what they’re doing or trying to make their own tackles. We’re just supporting everybody together.”

The Vikings’ postseason run has the community buzzing and the players appreciate the support from teachers, parents, businesses and community members.

“It’s been crazy,” Asmus said. “The team wants to keep winning but so does the community. There’s been people texting me about it – I don’t even know who they are – but the community wants to win so the energy has definitely been up.”

The Niles football team has been making history all season long. As its game against the Sailors approaches, the Vikings aim to continue making history and punch their tickets to Ford Field.

“If you’re gonna break records or make history, you might as well make it big,” Shaw said. “Get a win this week and we’re in a state championship game. Our goal is to play indoors next week and to do that, then you have to get this one.”