Ricardo Beltran and Nate Ganyard each scored twice for the Dragons.

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

STRUTHERS — Niles High backup tailback Ricardo Beltran took most of the snaps with the first team offense this week while starter Nate Ganyard nursed a slightly injured leg.

The hard work paid off for the senior who scored two first-half touchdowns to lead the Red Dragons to a 27-0 win over Struthers Friday in a Metro Athletic Conference opener.

Niles (4-0, 1-0) started slowly but scored two second-quarter touchdowns on a pair of one-yard runs by Beltran.

The first team strong safety who usually spells Ganyard at tailback finished with 44 yards on 10 carries, mostly in the first half.

“It was great to be able to come in and contribute and give Nate [Ganyard] some breaks,” Beltran said. “My line did a great job and it was nice to be able to get in the end zone.

“Struthers came at us hard early but we played well today.”

Second half scores

If Ganyard was injured he didn’t show it especially in the second half when he scored on runs of one-yard and 20 yards to help the Dragons dominate Struthers on the ground.

Ganyard finished with 128 yards rushing in 22 carries to increase his season total to 715 yards.

“We were able to move the ball but we have to get better up front,” Niles coach Tim Johnson said. “Our quarterback [Vince Melillo] was definitely on the mark and that helped take the heat off of our running game.”

Melillo completed 6 of 12 passes for 73 yards.

Niles scored their first touchdown following a 12-play, 71-yard drive that took over 5 minutes before Beltran scored his first TD.

After a short Struthers punt, the Dragons traveled 54 yards to their second score of the contest. Struthers managed to keep the Red Dragons in check somewhat but struggled offensively to move the football.

Rob Edwards, who relieved an injured Sam Valiquette, led the Wildcats in rushing with 98 yards on 16 carries.

Valiquette, who injured a shoulder, had 38 yards in 11 touches.

“We have to get better as a football team,” Struthers coach Dallas Saunders said.

“At some point in time you have to execute and that’s what we’re working toward.

“Good play, bad play. When we execute like we’re supposed to we look good. We have to learn how to finish things off.”

Poor punt costly

Struthers poorly executed a punt in the third quarter from near its own endzone and that resulted in Niles’ third score.

The Dragons took over on the Wildcats’ 10 yard line and scored three plays later on Ganyard’s 1-yard run.

Niles scored its final touchdown in the fourth quarter when Ganyard went around left end for a 20-yard touchdown run.

“Every win in this league is an important one,” Johnson said. “Struthers is tough. We knew that coming in so we knew this was going to be a battle.”

The Red Dragons will face Canfield next week.