Niles McKinley Red Dragons

Niles McKinley finished the 1973 season with 6 wins and 4 losses, the most losses in a single season in a 20 year period.

Niles traveled to Massillon and faced the Tigers before over 15,000 fans for one of their losses.

Niles traveled to Canton to face the Bulldogs of Canton McKinley in Fawcett Stadium for another loss before 11,000 fans.

Niles finished the 1973 season at home in Riverside Stadium hosting the Panthers of Warren Harding before 15,000 screaming fans as Niles lost by one point.

Niles suffered their first defeat of the season vs. the Boardman Spartans at Riverside Stadium the second game of the season by two points before 9,500 fans.

Niles began the season taking on the 1972 state semifinalist in the playoffs Toledo Scott at Riverside Stadium before over 8,000 fans with a victory.

The two teams that drew the least fans 11,000 total at Riverside Stadium were victories over Cleveland East and Cleveland East Tech.

Niles went on a three game winning streak downing East Liverpool, Alliance and Steubenville drawing 20,000 fans.

Niles had eight home games in 1973 drawing over 63,000 fans.

The 1973 season the Dragons drew over 89,000 fans for the season for an average of just over 8,900 fans per game.

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November 3, 1973 Niles sophomores finished the 1973 season with a 12-0 win over the Warren Harding sophomores. The victory ups the Niles sophomore record to 5 wins and one loss.

November 1985, Rob Blakely a Niles McKinley graduate is one of three Mahoning Valley griders continuing their football careers at Bethany College. Along with Rob are Scott Hunt of Girard and Neal Kopp of Boardman.

The Pee Wee Unit of the Niles Little Red Dragons won the Northeastern Ohio Football League's Super Bowl Championship with a 6-0 victory over Hubbard.

Todd Hickox, Brian Macik, Paula Hardman, Dave Rosine, Kenny Bright, Tom Schmitt, Brian Gadd, Richard Lewis, Rob Cutlip, George Thompson, Rich Lemon, Jim Carpenter, Richard Chamberlain, Chris Smith, Ben Downing, Michael Morgan, Ed Snider, Jeff Scarnotti

Coaches Rick Whittaker, Greg Gravink, Ed Smith, Lou Cutlip and Ward Reed

September 28, 1974 Bob Mannella an All Ohio LB from Niles McKinley now at the University of Purdue led the Boilermakers in tackles in his junior and senior season. A sophomore on this date and a starting LB are in South Bend, Indiana to face the nation's number one team the Irish of Notre Dame.

Bob Mannella picked off a Tom Clements pass and 25 yards later crossed over the Irish goal. Purdue held fast and ended an Irish win streak at 13 games 31-20. Ara Parseghian's Fighting Irish finished the 1974 season with a 10-2 record after a 13-11 win in the Orange Bowl over Alabama.

Besides Mannella another Niles native was on the field but with Notre Dame, Frank Bonder a Warren Kennedy graduate.