By JOHN BASSETTI

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

GIRARD — On a night more suited for the tropics, Nate Ganyard wasn’t wearing a lei or sipping juice out of a coconut.

Yet he was the hottest player on the field — and the most productive.

The 6-foot-1, 219-pound running back scored five times and finished with 327 yards on 23 carries as Niles beat Girard in the 62nd meeting between the teams, 35-14.

Following Girard victories from 2001-2004, Niles has now won for a third straight season.

The overall series, however is heavily in the Red Dragons’ favor: 35-20-7.

Line dominant

“That’s the best line-blocking I’ve seen in my whole career,” said Ganyard. The senior was referring to tight ends Chris Lykins and Stan Krezeczowski, tackles Jeff Petrilli and John Swisher, guards Jeff Cayavec and Max Plevyak and center Zach Showalter.

They helped Ganyard more than double his previous best single-game output of 156 yards in 2006.

Four of Ganyard’s TDs covered distances of 59, 58, 78 and 47 yards.

After the Red Dragons jumped out to a 14-0 lead, Girard battled back to tie at 14-14 with 2:18 remaining in the first half.

However, in the interim, the Indians lost their No. 1 runner in junior Kyle Stadelmyer.

After scoring his team’s first touchdown, the 6-2, 207 Stadelmyer incurred a thigh bruise.

Niles outgained Girard, 447-84 on the ground, but sophomore quarterback Adam Charles guided the Indians through the air by completing 14 of 27 passes for 182 yards.

Niles coach Tim Johnson wasn’t surprised that his team moved so well against Girard.

Attack strategy

“They were kind of stacking it in there against us and the kids blocked well. Once [Ganyard] broke into the secondary, he saw open space and he has speed to burn.”

One instance came in the third quarter when, on a counter play with spread formation, Ganyard burst loose for his 58-yard TD.

The tally followed two similar plays with the Red Dragons in a two tight end formation.

Charles scored Girard’s other touchdown on a 20-yard scamper.

On the play, the quarterback saw no receiver available, so he sprinted up the middle and then down the left sideline. Chris Weibel’s second PAT tied the game.

“Girard did OK in the second quarter when Charles was moving them in the air,” said Johnson. “His cutting and scrambling was very good, too. But in the second half, I guess our coverage must have been a little better and we got a little more heat on him.”

Johnson noted that, for a sophomore, Charles makes very good decisions.

Of Stadelmyer’s problem Johnson said: “We don’t want to see anyone get hurt on either side, but when they lost him they lost an excellent back.”

Numbers show

On one sideline was Niles, which dressed 54 players, and Girard on the other with 31 in uniform.

Girard coach Bud McSuley acknowledged the job done by Niles’ linemen.

“They manhandled us up front. Our guys have got to do some searching. They’ve got to line up and play. It’s nothing we didn’t prepare for. They just lined up and kicked our butts.”

McSuley was mostly pleased with Charles’ performance, but tempered it in the context of the opponent.

“We’re going to do some good things. They [Niles] beat us tonight on both sides of the ball and our special teams didn’t do a good job. We have some work to do.”

bassetti@vindy.com