Niles McKinley new coach, Brian Shaner, expects success from the Chinese Calendar, which is based on a 12-year cycle, recognizes 2012 as The Year of the Dragon. Niles has never experienced a losing season during a Year of the Dragon. The last such year (2000) resulted in a trip to the regional finals — Niles’ deepest playoff run.

1916: 4-2-1

1928: 4-3-2

1940: 7-2-1

1952: 7-2

1964: 8-2

1976: 7-2-1

1988: 7-3

2000: 11-2

2012: 4-0

Total: 59-18-5

Team

Niles

Record	Div.	Conf.
4/6	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

NILES

Statistics don’t lie, and there’s a glaring stat involving Niles McKinley which reflects the team’s success.

It also speaks volumes about the level of trust which exists between the coaches and players.

Through just four games, Niles has gone for it on fourth down 14 times. That’s a hefty number, especially given the fact that none of the attempts came out of desperation. Rather, the plays often occur early in games, and from just about anywhere on the field.

“It’s just a matter of confidence, and believing that our guys will execute,” Niles coach Brian Shaner said. “With our personnel, we feel as though we’re in four-down mode almost every time we have the ball.”

Now, here’s the clincher. Niles has converted every single one of those fourth-down opportunities.

“That’s a huge momentum swing, converting those plays. It helps set the tone for what we like to do,” Shaner said. “Going for it in those situations comes down to having trust in our players.”

For Shaner, trust is the cornerstone to just about every decision he makes involving football.

Trust that he made the right choice when he left the comfort and familiarity of Youngstown East for a program known to prematurely chase even the best of coaches.

Trust that his gut feeling was correct when he sensed that Niles student-athletes were as hard-nosed and dedicated as any in the Valley.

Trust that he would get those athletes to buy into his system and warm up to his high-energy personality.

“I heard all the stories about how Niles will name a street after you one day, then the next day chase you down that street and out of town,” Shaner said. “A lot of people told me I was crazy for wanting to come here. I understood the passion of the fan base. But all that showed me was that Niles is crazy about football. That’s the type of place I want to coach.”

Shaner trusted his instincts in December when he interviewed for the Niles job after spending nine seasons coaching in the Youngstown City Schools. In leaving Youngstown East, he was departing a team which was returning 28 seniors.

“It wasn’t the easiest thing to do,” Shaner said. “I worked with great kids in Youngstown. The kids I had, they gave it their all.”

What Youngstown didn’t offer was a home field, a conference affiliation, a program steeped in tradition and a large fan base. The complete package in Niles was too appealing to pass up for Shaner.

“From a coaching standpoint, Niles has everything you want,” he said. “I just felt the time was right and Niles was a perfect fit.”

Four games into the season, it appears as though Shaner’s instincts were dead-on. Under his guidance, the Red Dragons are off to a 4-0 start, and ranked second in this week’s Ohio High School Athletic Association computer ratings.

Last Friday, Niles logged what Shaner called “a monumental win” when it downed Poland 33-28. The Red Dragons dominated for three quarters, building a 26-7 lead before the Bulldogs staged a late rally.

It was just the fourth victory for Niles over Poland in 23 tries. It also marked the first time in 47 years that a first-year Niles coach started the season with four straight wins.

“Outside of our locker room, I know that very few people gave us a chance,” Shaner said. “But to a man, every player and coach expected to win that game. The guys bought into our way of doing things from day one. They believe in us, we believe totally in them.”

Niles’ way of doing things revolves around an offense which is as high-spirited as Shaner’s infectious enthusiasm. Defensively, he says the Dragons “fly to the ball and are always in attack mode.”

“People said we didn’t have the personnel to run this stye of offense,” Shaner said. “They said we didn’t have the athletes to play what some view as an inner-city style defense. We took that personal.”

The no-huddle, Oregon-style offense has turned Stefan Yuhas into one of the area’s top dual threats. The senior quarterback is on pace to become the first quarterback in school history to throw and rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He has completed 36 of 61 passes for 555 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also rushed for nine TDs and 551 yards on 121 carries.

Junior Marcus Hill has quickly evolved into a big-play receiver, with 17 catches for 282 yards and three scores.

But Shaner insists the key to success is the fact that Niles has multiple play-makers. Against Liberty, running back John Cicero had a big second half to help propel the Dragons to a 12-6 win. Senior receiver Chris Hillier has been “constant and reliable,” according to Shaner. Junior Chris Parry had touchdown catches of 26 and 14 yards against Poland.

Then there is the offensive line, the unit Shaner refers to as the heart and soul of the team. Division I prospects Josh Krok (6-foot-8, 310) and Frank Saban (6-5, 310) lead the group, which boasts plenty of size and experience.

“These guys up front, they were thrust into the limelight during the off-season,” Shaner said. “There was a lot of talk about how good they were, so they came in with the pressure of having to live up to very high expectations. Boy, have they responded.”

Saban, a three-year starter, said he and his linemen thrive on being part of an offense which is programmed to snap the ball within eight seconds after it is placed by the official. He said the enthusiasm is largely a by-product of the energy displayed by the coaching staff.

As for Niles’ fourth-down conversion success?

Not surprisingly, Saban says it all goes back to the trust between coach and players.

“If it’s fourth down, and Coach doesn’t hesitate to call a play, it gets us pumped,” Saban said. “He’s showing a lot of trust in us at that point, and we don’t want to let him down. Coach Shaner is a great guy. He can be strict and crazy, but he’s a lot of fun and he’s all about caring for the players.”

After back-to-back road games against Salem and Poland, Niles returns home tonight to host Beaver Local. A victory would give the Red Dragons their first 5-0 start since 2000. They finished 11-2 that season and advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the only time in school history.

The fast start has generated plenty of excitement. Niles football is the hot topic all over town. One merchant on Robbins Avenue placed a “Shaner For President” sign outside his store. Fans packed the home side of Bo Rein Stadium during the first two home games. Last week, it appeared as though the Poland fans were outnumbered at home.

“One look up into the stands reminded me of why I came here,” Shaner said.

And while Dragon Drive has not yet been renamed Shaner Boulevard, well, you never know what the football-crazy fans will do should the Red Dragons keep winning.

As for being chased out of town on that same road?

The ever-positive Shaner isn’t the least bit fazed by such a possibility.

“Look, I’m in it for the kids — I’m in it to make them better men,” Shaner said. “We demand that our athletes are first and foremost successful people, and I believe that the people of Niles appreciate our efforts. Anything else is just icing on the cake.”