By JOHN HARRIS

sports@vindy.com

HUBBARD

When Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman finally settled on a quarterback in Friday night’s game against Niles, the Eagles’ offense soared.

Sophomore Davion Daniels rushed for 130 yards, including an explosive 48-yard touchdown burst in the fourth quarter, and he also added a touchdown pass in a 35-21 come-from-behind win at Hubbard Memorial Field.

“Davion Daniels came in and really made some nice plays with his arm and his legs,” Hoffman said.

Daniels replaced fellow sophomore Shannon Slovesko, who started the game but threw an early interception that Niles senior defensive back Jaylon Sanders returned 22 yards for a touchdown.

“Both of them have done some good things for us,” Hoffman said about his young quarterbacks. “Tonight Davion did a nice job.”

In a game of big plays, the Eagles’ defense chipped in with three turnovers, including senior linebacker David Hernandez’s 50-yard interception return for a touchdown after Niles had built a 14-0 lead.

Hernandez’s touchdown led to Hubbard scoring 35 consecutive points as the Eagles, who improved to 5-1 and 2-0 in the AAC White, grabbed the momentum and never gave it back.

“This is a true testament of the character of the kids on our team. It was a good team win against a good football team,” Hoffman said. “We haven’t been in this situation before. To be down 14 points and to keep fighting, I’m proud of these guys.

“A lot of guys made big plays. David Hernndez made some huge plays, the pick-six to get us back in the second quarter. That was a pendulum swing for us. We needed him to make a big play, and he did. He uplifted us.”

Niles, which moved the ball up and down the field early, took a two-touchdown lead when sophomore running back Robbie Savin broke an arm tackle and motored 56 yards with 35.6 seconds left in the first quarter.

Following Hernandez’s interception return in the second quarter, Hubbard drove 81 yards in the final three minutes of the first half to tie the score. Daniels’ 7-yard touchdown pass to Hernandez in the corner of the end zone made it 14-14.

“We felt like we were in control. We could have gone up 21-0,” Niles coach Brian Shaner said.

Instead, it was Hubbard that took control.

Senior defensive back Mason Borawiec intercepted Niles senior quarterback Tyler Srbinovich and returned it 29 yards to the Red Devils’ 46. Six plays later, sophomore running back Rafael Morales barreled into the end zone from the 3 to give Hubbard its first lead at 20-14 with 3:42 remaining in the third quarter.

Daniels’ 48-yard run made it 28-14 following a two-point conversion. Morales’ second touchdown run of the game completed the scoring for the Eagles.

Shaner lamented lost opportunities for Niles, which is 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the AAC White.

“We came out and didn’t play with the same energy in the second half,” Shaner said. “We’ve got to learn to face adversity and play four quarters of football.”