Wollet’s four scores lift Poland past Niles

By Jim Flick

NILES — Paced by a sometimes flashy offense and a stingy defense that forced mistakes, Poland blanked Niles 35-0 Friday night.

Luke Wollet scored four touchdowns for Poland, three times smashing into the end zone on offense. He scored his final touchdown on a 100-yard interception return.

Adding some flash to the Bulldogs’ offense was receiver Darius Patton, who snagged five passes for 122 yards and gained 18 yards on two carries.

But the leader of the potent offense for Poland (5-0. 1-0 All-American Red Division) was sophomore quarterback Colin Reardon. Reardon completed 8 of 10 passes for 180 yards, and threw a second-quarter TD pass to John Price.

Poland coach Mark Brungard said Reardon shows surprising alertness for a young quarterback.

“He seems to have a presence,” he said. “He seems to know who’s going to get open, who he should get the ball to. If he continues to progress, he has great potential.”

Brungard praised his team’s defense and both offensive and defensive lines.

“I was very pleased with the defense pitching the shutout.,” he said. “It starts up front.”

Niles (3-2, 1-1) fumbled the ball away on the game’s second offensive play.

Poland responded with a seven-play, 48-yard drive that ended when Wollet scampered into the end zone from 13 yards out.

On the first play of the second quarter, Wollet scored his second touchdown of the night, this time on a three-yard run that ended a 10-play, 69-yard drive.

As the clock ticked toward halftime, the Red Dragons made their second mistake of the night, this time an interception thrown by Niles quarterback Zack Bailey with only 33 seconds remaining.

Poland quickly took advantage of the Niles miscue, driving 69 yards in three plays. Reardon tossed a 13-yard pass to senior wide receiver John Price. After kicker Kyle Filicky, a senior, booted the extra point, the Bulldogs went the locker room with a 21-point lead.

In the third quarter, Wollet scored his third touchdown on a 1-yard run that ended an eight-play, 69-yard drive. On a key play in the drive, Patton caught a pass from Reardon and weaved downfield for a 33-yard gain.

Niles finally neared the end zone late in the third quarter. But when the Red Dragons launched a pass toward the end zone, Wollet intercepted the ball on the goal line. He bolted the length of the field, dodging and stiff-arming Niles player until he’d completed a 100-yard return and dashed into the end to score the final touchdown of the night.

Red Dragon mistakes were the key to the game, said Niles coach Brad Yeager.

“Poland’s a very good team, and you can’t give a great program the opportunity to make plays,” he said.

Niles committed three turnovers Friday, a fumble and two interceptions. Poland turned the ball over only once, on a late-game interception thrown by a back-up quarterback after Reardon left the game.

Poland gained 290 yards in total offense Friday, compared to only 102 yards for Niles.