By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

NILES

The Niles McKinley High marching band on Friday carried on a tradition which began in 1964 by performing Script Niles at halftime of the Red Dragons’ final home game against Jefferson.

As an added bonus, Charles Rayburn, the former Niles band director who originated the halftime performance was on hand to witness the show.

In between the halftime entertainment, Niles coach Brian Shaner scripted a game plan which his players carried out to perfection. The result was a Red Dragons 32-20 All American Conference win over the Falcons on a cold and damp night at Bo Rein Stadium.

Sophomore running back Robbie Savin rushed for 173 yards and had touchdown runs of 26 and 50 yards to lead the Dragons rushing attack. More importantly, Savin and the Dragons (4-5) put together numerous time-consuming drives, keeping Jefferson’s high-potent offense off the field.

Jefferson (4-5) is led offensively by running back Jeremiah Knight. The senior entered the game with 1,818 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, and is the all-time leading rusher in Ashtabula County history.

Against the Dragons, Knight gained 126 yards on 17 carries.

“We knew we were going up against one of the best backs in the state, and we wanted to keep him off the field as much as possible,” Shaner said. “Defensively, we made Jefferson work for their yards. Our guys were really geared up toward stopping (Knight). He’s a fantastic back who is breaking every record imaginable and our guys stepped up and challenged themselves.”

Knight and the Falcons offense was contained in part because of a pair of drives by the Niles offense which ate up a good portion of the first half clock. The first drive covered 75 yards and took 13 plays, capped by a Tyler Srbinovich two-yard run which gave Niles a 7-0 lead.

After stopping Jefferson on a three-and-out, the Dragons’ ensuing possession covered 74 yards on 11 plays, this time ending with a Srbinovich one-yard run to give Niles a 14-0 advantage.

Jefferson wasted no time scoring out of the break. The Falcons needed just two plays — runs of 33 yards by JJ Henson and 30 yards by Knight — to cut their deficit to 14-7.

However, Niles extended its lead to 17-7 on a Kevin Swegan 28-yard field goal. Then on the ensuing kickoff, the Dragons recovered a fumble, and Savin made the Falcons pay with his 26-yard touchdown run. He later scored his 50-yard TD at the midway point of the fourth period after Jefferson had cut the Niles lead to 32-20.

“Rob Savin is an absolute Niles running back, that’s what they’ve had here for years and he is cut from that mold,” Shaner said. “He stayed patient. He trusted in the line, and we started to get it going in the second half.”

Savin said his team was determined not to experience a second-half letdown.

“The first half could have been better, but we regrouped at halftime and we were not going to let things get away from us in the second half,” Savin said. “The linemen did a great job of creating holes. I just followed their lead.”