By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

NILES

While Mahoning Valley residents will be moving their clocks back an hour later tonight, the Niles McKinley High football program decided to turn its clocks back a day early.

Prior to Friday’s game between the Red Dragons and East, Niles honored its 1963 team which went 10-0 and captured a state championship. The Dragons also surprised their fans by coming out in replica ’63 jerseys.

Niles then turned to a good old-fashioned, grind-it-out running game to rally from an early 20-0 deficit and defeat East, 41-32, in the season finale for both teams.

With its high-potent passing game in an early funk, the Red Dragons (5-5) turned to running back John Cicero. The senior responded with the game of his life. Cicero rushed for 320 yards and four touchdowns on 47 carries to power Niles.

“I’m shocked to hear I had that many yards or carries,” Cicero said. “As the game went on, I just kept going out there thinking that I had to do whatever was needed to get us a win. The game was close throughout, so you don’t have time to think about anything other than the current play.”

Early on, the game wasn’t close, and it wasn’t in the Red Dragons’ favor.

Niles senior Kyle Paden was intercepted on the game’s first play from scrimmage, and five plays later, Demond Belton scored on a seven-yard pass from Dalane Brown.

On Niles’ second possession, Paden threw another interception, this one returned 38 yards to paydirt by East senior Jawuan Jones.

Before the first quarter ended, Jones also score don a 24-yard pass play and a 61-yard run. The Panthers (1-9) led 20-0 with 4:40 left in the first quarter, and took a 26-7 lead into the second period.

From that point forward, Cicero owned the night. Trailing by 19 points, Niles scored five unanswered rushing touchdowns — three by Cicero and two by Paden.

“We had every intention of coming out and throwing the football like we did most of the year,” said Niles coach Brian Shaner. “But we turned it over early, and to give a team with that kind of athletic ability a big lead, we had to play a little close to the vest to get back into it.

“I’m just very proud of the way our guys responded to adversity. They could have easily thrown in the towel, but I knew there was no way this group wo do that.”

Shaner called Cicero’s performance an “absolutely amazing feat.”

“Here’s a young man who knows that he’s not always going to be the focal point of our offense because of our passing game, but he comes out and gives us everything he has every day,” Shaner said. “Then when we do call on him, he gives us memorable performances.”

Paden finished with 145 passing yards. For the season, Paden passed for 2,927 yards, establishing a Trumbull County single-season record. He is one of 16 seniors Niles will lose to graduation.

“This was a great group of seniors who I wish I could coach every year,” Shaner said.