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John Giangardela 1980 LB/PK still holds the All Time Longest FG of 47-yards vs Girard in 1980. He
earned All Trumbull County
First Team (LB) 1980, All Trumbull County
First Team (K) 1980, Team Co-Captain 1981, Dominick Sharkey Award 1981, All Trumbull
County First Team (LB) 1981, All Trumbull
County First Team (K) 1981, All Trumbull
County First Team (P) 1981, Trumbull
County Coaches Association Player of the Year Nominee 1981, Bo Rein Memorial Scholarship
Award 1982
Joe Meere led Niles
1938-1940 scoring 14 TDs and against Akron Buchtel in 1938 as a sophomore crossed into the goal line on four occasions. At
that time only the fifth Red Dragon to cross an opponent’s goal line 4 times or more. At the time, he hit the Niles records as only the third Red Dragon to score
four TDs as a sophomore at the varsity level and remains in the Niles records in three categories. 1940, Niles went 7-2-1 on the year including a 19-0 win over Girard, which the
game ball was awarded to Joe Meere. He earned All Trumbull County
First Team (HB) 1939, Girard All Opponent Team 1939, and All Trumbull County
First Team (QB) 1940. He attended John Carroll University where he started as a freshman at HB. He enlisted in the Army-Air Corp in 1943 and flew 70 missions. He was
heavily decorated and received the Certificate of Valor.
Ben Hensley an All American Conference All Star anchored down an offensive line in 1973 as a Tackle. He
would clear a path for his RB Bob DeChristofaro who gained 773-yards that season
Below
W. C. Campbell Superintendent of the Niles City Schools beginning in 1910 determined to set Niles Football
on a course that led to the great 1914 and 1919 football teams. Hired Niles' first paid Head Coach W. W. Giffen and provided
the proper equipment and gear. Also served as Asst. Coach to W. W.
Well deserving of the title "Father of Niles McKinley High School Football"
Bob Santangelo epitomized the essence of Niles football with
determination and desire never to lose and earned All American Conference First Team (T) 1968, All Ohio Second Team UPI (MG)
1968, All Ohio Honorable Mention AP (MG) 1968 and was selected to the Ohio North/South High School All Star Football Game
(T) 1969
Howard Rider held the Tackle position on both sides of the ball in 1911 and 1912. In 1912, he held
the Right Tackle next to his cousin at Right Guard Russ Stein.
Bill Gales #10 QB 1963-led Niles to the 1963 State Champions in both Associated Press and United Press International
with a record of nine wins, no losses and one tie.
Bill Gales accounted for 114-points of the 401 scored by the 1963 Dragons. Tossing 16 TDs, running for two
TDs and running in a 2-point conversion, and passing for two 2-point conversion accumulated the 114-points.
Bill was a First Team All Trumbull County at QB, First Team All American Conference at Safety, Second Team
All Ohio at QB, High School All American and selected to the Ohio North/South All Star Game. Bill went on to Yale.
Bill Watterson #50 C/LB 1964 was instrumental in leading Niles to an 8 win 2 loss season in 1964. Only
losses were to Massillon at the Akron Rubber Bowl 14-8 before 30,000 + fans and a 20-16 defeat at Cincinnati Roger Bacon.
The season ended with a 26-0 victory over Warren Harding.
Bill the Team Captain for 1964 was selected the Outstanding Senior Award, First Team All Trumbull County
at Center, Second Team All American Conference at Center and Linebacker, First Team All Northeast Ohio at Linebacker, Third
Team All Ohio at linebacker according to the United Press International and First Team All Ohio at Linebacker according
to the Associated Press. Bill went on to Dayton University.
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Marty Brutz, RG, 1938 - 1940. This picture is of Marty while at the University of Notre Dame.
Started at RG in 1939 &1940 earning Girard All Opponent Team 1939, All Trumbull County First Team (G) 1939, Team Co-Captain 1940, All Trumbull County First Team
(RT) 1940, All Ohio First Team UPI (G) 1940, All Ohio Second Team AP (G) 1940
Athletes as John Krok that graced
Riverside Stadium in the decade of the 60s lifted Niles to a State Power status. The above picture is of John at Syracuse University.
An Offensive Guard and Defensive
End for the 1961 State Champs and Offensive Guard & Nose Guard in 1962 was instrumental in Niles amassing an overall record
of 18 wins, no losses and 1 tie.
At Niles, he earned
All Trumbull County First Team (G) 1962, All Ohio Honorable Mention AP (G) 1962 and All Ohio Honorable Mention UPI (G) 1962.
At Syracuse,
he started in 30 strait football games for the Orangeman through the years 1964 – 1966. Participated in the 1965 Sugar
Bowl Game then his performance earned him a spot on the All Sugar Bowl Team that year. In 1966, he was selected to play in
two Bowl Games, The Blue-Gray Bowl and The Gator Bowl participating in the Gator Bowl.
George Harris a FB/LB in 1968 and 1969. In 1969 his blocking ability was superior and in many cases led
Rick Gales through the lines.
His efforts against Middletown in 1969 scored three touchdowns and gained 174-yards on 18 attempts.
An excellant LB would hit so hard that one would wake up the fifth Tuesday of the month. An All American
Conference All Star in 1968 and in 1969 a First Teamer at the LB spot.
Ask why did Niles go 10-0 in 1966 and an All Time Great comes to mind named Dominic Santangelo.
One of Niles' best LB, Dominic made up one of Niles' best defensive units of all time.
All Trumbull County HM (LB) 1966, All American Conference First Team (LB) 1966 and All Ohio HM UPI
(G) 1966
1966 - 10 Wins No Losses - the last Niles undefeated combine
Dirk
Abernathy a Niles All Time Great, a quarterback and co-captain of the 1974 squad. The All American Conference All Star led
the Dragons to a seven win, 3-loss record, which included one of the fabled come from behind games in Niles History, a 21-16
victory over the Massillon Tigers. In 1974, Dirk accounted for nine touchdowns, five by passing and four by running and tossed
two, Two Point after Touchdowns, a total of 58-points. He set a new record in 1974, Most Yards Rushing for a Quarterback and
held that top spot for 32 years. He is the only Dragon quarterback in Niles History to toss a pass, have it deflected, come
down with the ball and run it in for a touchdown.
Participated in the Ohio High School
North-South All Star Game
Attended Bowling Green University
1975-1979 and was co-captain in his senior year. In 1979 selected to play in the Can-Am Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Drafted
by the Oakland Raiders and participated in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
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| W. W. Giffen |
Superintendent of Schools W C Campbell hired W W
Giffen the first paid coach in Niles History at the end of the 1910 season. W W Giffen began to build a powerhouse at Niles
High and his 1913 edition had a 7 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie record that set the stage for one of the best football teams in
Niles History the 1914 squad, that ran up a 9-1 record with five of its members going on to play pro ball.
His five seasons at Niles accumulated a record of 26 wins, 12 losses and 7 ties. Against archrival
Warren, he was one win, one loss and two ties.
| 1964 |
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| Niles VS Massillon |
1964 Niles/Massillon
encounter at the Akron Rubber Bowl. Down 14-08, Niles drives on Massillon late in the fourth quarter as Bill Watterson, the center and LB signals another first down. Niles eventually fell short on this drive and the Tigers pick up a victory.
Jason Dye #40, churning up yardage toward the goal against Youngstown East 1992.
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