Staff picture / R. Michael Semple. Former Niles coach Bill Bohren (left) makes a degree with 2000 Red Dragons participant Brian Middlestone on Friday night time at Bo Rein Stadium.
NILES — In the 128-year historical past of Niles McKinley soccer, this system has skilled a 48-game unbeaten streak, a handful of undefeated seasons and a pair of state championships.
But simply as soon as has Niles gained greater than 10 video games in a single season.
Last Friday, that team — the 2000 version of the Red Dragons — was honored at Bo Rein Stadium throughout Niles’ sport towards rival Howland.
The twenty fifth reunion introduced collectively roughly 25 former gamers and coaches who have been a part of the team that went 11-2 and made Niles’ deepest playoff run in program historical past.
“That team was as good as any Division II team in the state,” mentioned Bill Bohren, who coached the Red Dragons from 1996-2002. “We had an incredible ball management offense. Our line was among the best within the state. We had an important kicking sport and our protection was excellent.
“That team was built in all phases. On top of that, I had a staff of assistants that was second to none.”
Bohren, now 91, spent Friday night time roaming the sidelines till the ultimate play of the sport.
Niles opened its 2000 season with 9 straight wins, together with back-to-back comfy wins over Cleveland Benedictine and Liberty to start out the season. There have been some shut calls alongside the best way. The Dragons edged out Austintown Fitch 7-3 in week three. Two weeks later, Niles hosted defending DIII state champion Poland in entrance of a near-sellout crowd. Trailing 6-0 halfway by means of the fourth quarter, Niles quarterback Brad Yeager related with Matt Cross on a fourth down play to tie the sport. Billy Sullivan’s additional level proved to be the distinction in a Dragons 7-6 win.
There was additionally per week six tilt at Howland during which Niles was compelled to play with out its chief on the sidelines. Prior to kickoff, an sickness put Bohren within the hospital. Defensive coordinator Larry Kempe took cost, and guided Niles to a 14-7 victory — however not with no little bit of drama.
With the sport tied at 7-7, a blown transformer at Lombardo Field compelled the sport to be halted with 7:41 left within the third quarter. The two groups needed to return the next morning to finish the competition. Running again Matt Estes offered the successful rating within the fourth quarter.
Sporting a 9-0 document, Niles traveled to Steubenville to conclude the common season. Big Red defeated the Dragons 14-2.
“That was a great year, I remember the hype surrounding our team since our freshmen year,” mentioned Sam Gatta. “We knew there were high expectations from day one. The excitement throughout the town was unbelievable. But we were never bothered by any of it. We enjoyed it. We just trusted in each other and in our coaches.”
Yeager referred to the group of gamers and coaches as “a fraternity,” and famous that of the 20 seniors on the team, all however 4 have been readily available for the reunion.
“We were an extremely close-knit group back then, and we are still that way today,” Yeager mentioned. “We all keep in contact. We’re all nonetheless like brothers.
“When we brought (the students from) St. Stephen’s, Mount Carmel and Edison together in ninth grade, we knew immediately that we had something special and we were on a four-year mission.”
Yeager would go on to function the Niles coach from 2008-2011. He is now a principal at Campbell Memorial High School.
Estes rushed for roughly 4,000 yards and 50 touchdowns throughout his profession at Niles. He joked that he’s “still feeling the elbow, knee and shoulder pain” from the heavy workload. It was not unusual for Estes to hold the ball 30-40 occasions per sport throughout his senior season.
“I remember having back-to-back 40-plus carries against Struthers and Howland,” Estes mentioned. “And, Coach Bohren had me play protection and canopy kickoffs. But I wouldn’t commerce that have for something on this planet.
“We were all kids that grew up together in Niles, we came from Niles families that stayed here. That’s what made the whole thing so special. We had a special bond even before we came together in high school to form that team.”
Following the loss to Steubenville, Niles completed fifth in Region 5 and drew Youngstown Chaney as a first-round opponent. Earlier within the week the Cowboys have been topped the Division II AP state champions.
The sport, performed at Youngstown State’s Stambaugh Stadium, drew an estimated crowd of 18,000 followers.
“The buildup to that game was unlike anything else I ever experienced,” mentioned Tony Limongi, a lineman who would go on to play at Youngstown State. “I at all times say that the largest reminiscence I’ve of taking part in at Stambaugh Stadium was the sport towards Chaney. It was not like something I skilled after that, since you had the entire consideration of the 2 communities, and your entire Mahoning Valley for that matter.
“That was a wild season from the very start. Then to get to experience that moment with my teammates who were lifelong friends, it was unforgettable.”
Yeager described the sport as “more than just a game, it was a special event for Niles and Youngstown.”
Current Niles mayor Steve Mientkiewicz was a junior on the 2000 team. Like nearly all of former gamers who have been readily available Friday, Mientkiewicz mentioned that the first-round playoff sport was simply his most memorable second of the season.
“The quarterbacks would always go out in pregame with Coach Bohren, so we go out and it was like any regular Friday night,” Mientkiewicz mentioned. “Then we see the group get somewhat greater after which even greater but earlier than we go into the locker room.
“Now we’re in the tunnel and we look out and see all those people. Me and Brad (Yeager) just looked at each other and our eyes lit up. It’s unbelievable to be a teenager and to see an entire community converge to give you support”
Niles would go on to defeat Chaney 21-20 in extra time. Estes ran for a pair of touchdowns, Yeager threw for a TD and Sullivan offered what proved to be the game-winning PAT. Per week later the Red Dragons traveled to Bedford to tackle Avon Lake, and once more prevailed with a 21-20 extra time victory.
In the regional remaining, Niles returned to Bedford to play Olmsted Falls. The journey to Bedford included a stoppage due to climate situations. The sport was performed in blizzard-like climate.
Olmsted Falls defeated Niles 41-13 and went on to win the DII state title.
Bohren mentioned that of the greater than 400 video games he has coached through the years, the regional remaining could be the one he would most want for a rematch.
“Olmsted Falls beat us good, no doubt about that,” Bohren mentioned. “But I always believed that if we played that game on a different night on a good field we would have won a state title. Our team was that good. We didn’t achieve our mission, but that was a great season.”
Both Mientkiewicz and Yeager counsel that maybe the Dragons did certainly fulfill the last word mission.
“I came away with great memories and with a lifetime bond among the players and coaches,” Mientkiewicz mentioned. “What we accomplished on the football field was just a small part of the overall experience.”
Yeager echoed the feedback made by Mientkiewicz, noting that the team’s final victory was evident Friday night time.
“We learned life lessons that made us who we are today,” Yeager mentioned. “As a grown man you look again at the way you have been constructed, and for us it was our mother and father at dwelling and it was Bill Bohren.
“Coach Bohren built a legacy at Niles. He molded us into a great team but more importantly his true legacy will be how he impacted our lives outside of football. He worked at making us upstanding young men, and that’s the greatest victory to come out of the 2000 season.”