Team

Poland

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/3	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

Team

Niles

Record	Div.	Conf.
2/8	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

By Ryan Buck

sports @vindy.com

POLAND

Senior running back Dylan Garver ran for 157 yards and four touchdowns, freshman quarterback Cole Kosco found receiver Anthony Calcagni twice for scores through the air and the Poland defense limited Niles’ powerful offense in a convincing 50-19 home victory Friday.

The Bulldogs (2-0) raced out to a 23-7 first quarter lead. Garver capped Poland’s opening drive— all run plays— with a 3-yard run with 8:24 left in the first quarter.

Following a botched pooch kick from Niles, Kosco found Calcagni streaking across the middle of the field for a 37-yard touchdown with 6:36 remaining in the first quarter.

Niles quarterback Tyler Srbinovich responded with a drive of his own. A 42-yard throw and catch to receiver Marlon Pearson and a 16-yard run by Steven Mintz set up a 3-yard Srbinovich touchdown run to cut Poland’s lead in half.

The Niles momentum was short-lived. Garver and Nick Petrolla runs preceded Kosco’s best throw of the night. With an incoming blitz right in his face, the 6-foot-2 freshman threw a perfectly thrown ball into the waiting arms of Calcagni, who had a defender on his back as he crossed the goal line near the front left pylon.

As time expired in the quarter, Nick Buccieri sacked Srbinovich in his own end zone for a safety.

Poland coach Mark Brungard is very confident in the support system afforded his young quarterback.

“We ask our kids that no matter who’s behind center to play to the best of their abilities,” Brungard said. “We’re fortunate in that Cole Kosco has some maturity really beyond his years and we can establish the line of scrimmage with our offensive line and our backs.

“It takes a little pressure off Cole in that position. Right now we’re getting some good play out of him and we’re getting a dominating effort out of our line and our backs.”

Garver scored again on a 7yard run following the safety. Pearson found the end zone on a 35-yard strike from Srbinovich three minutes later.

Garver, following massive holes created by an earth moving corps of linemen, hit paydirt on a 32-yard run. Ahead 37-19, Garver, who was spelled by Petrolla, Buccieri’s direct snaps and Alec Carsoules, capped the evening with a 60-yard touchdown run as the third quarter wound down.

Justyn Madick, Nick Sabrin, Drew Davies, Zachary Norris and Evan Montgomery paved the way.

“They’re strong, they’re fundamentally sound, they understand and execute their system perfectly,” said Niles coach Brian Shaner. “They’re a very well-coached team that has that winning tradition and they just keep it going.”

Niles (1-1) was able to manage some big plays from Srbinovich and his talented receiving corps, but Poland’s ball control and team defense largely stifled a team that scored 51 points in a Week 1 victory over Girard.

“Poland’s known for their power offense and great defense and they did that again tonight,” Shaner said.