Saturday, October 27, 2001
The win means a home playoff game for Chaney.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NILES -- Ed McElroy's 19-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 49 seconds remaining capped a 90-yard, 15-play scoring drive to give Chaney a come-from-behind 12-7 victory over Niles on Friday at Bo Rein Stadium.
The win ensures the Cowboys (9-1) a home playoff berth next Friday as Stambaugh Stadium.
It looked like Niles (4-6) might upset the Cowboys as it did last year in the Division II playoffs after Don Fridley raced 47 yards with a blocked punt and Bill Sullivan added the extra point to give the Red Dragons a 7-6 lead with 10:20 left in the contest.
Fridley's touchdown was set up when Dwayne Gadd burst through and blocked a punt by Chaney's Charles Jaminet.
But the Cowboys regrouped and showed the poise of champions as they marched flawlessly down the field in adverse weather conditions.
Limited by mud: Snow and rain had reduced the field to a muddy quagmire and both teams were limited in what they were able to do offensively.
"Talk about a character builder," Chaney coach Ron Berdis said of the winning drive. "When adversity hit and the punt was blocked and [Niles] got their score, our kids never blinked and they just marched the ball 90 yards.
"What can you say, [that was] just a great effort by our kids."
The winning drive was aided by a fake punt call with five minutes remaining.
On fourth-and-2 on Chaney's own 36, Berdis elected to have McElroy take the short snap out of punt formation and he followed his blocking for a crucial first down.
"We thought we needed to make something happen there," Berdis said. "You put the ball in the hands of the best running back you have and we liked the percentages. Eddie made a great run and the kids executed the play really well."
Niles coach Bill Bohren said that his team was aware that Chaney might try a fake in that situation.
"We went to a punt safe on that play," Bohren said. "The kid made a 3-yard gain and got just what he needed."
Niles had one last chance following McElroy's go-ahead touchdown, but Niles quarterback Steve Mientkiewicz was intercepted by Juan Serrano, which sealed the victory for Chaney.
Scoreless first half: After the two teams battled to a scoreless first half, Chaney took the second half kickoff and marched 70 yards on six plays before Keilen Dykes scored on a 4-yard run.
McElroy broke for a 57-yard gain during the drive and he was the workhorse for Chaney all night.
The junior rushed for 247 yards on 35 carries.
"We thought we could go right at Niles and that's what we were able to do," Berdis said. "Give Niles credit, they played a great football game, especially defensively. Fortunately, we were able to respond when we needed to."
Bohren said his team played well and when it took the lead, he thought it would pull out the win.
"I thought when we had them 7-6 in the fourth quarter, I thought we were in pretty good shape," Bohren said. "They showed why they're an awfully good football team by marching 90 yards to win the football game."
Defensively, Chaney held Niles to 63 total yards.