By Shawn Ellwood
NILES OH- Poland continued their dominance atop the NE8 Conference Friday night as the Bulldogs routed the Niles Red Dragons in a 42-6 blowout victory at Bo Rein Stadium. Poland’s offense got off to a quick start against the Dragons defense, as senior running back Pano Xipolitas punched in an early score from the 1 yard line to start the scoring in the 1st, giving the Bulldogs an early 7-0 lead.
The Dragons offense did show some flashes early on, with a trick wide receiver pass from Cash Carey-Hardin to Juawaun Wright to get Niles in Poland territory, but the drive would stall off of a 4th down interception by sophomore Ashton Sattarelle.
And that is where the Bulldogs would start to break the game open. Senior Vito Komara took a wide open pass from quarterback David Xipolitas 73 yards to the house to expand the lead to 14-0 late in the 1st, and on the following drive to start the 2nd quarter, the Dragons would fumble in Bulldogs territory, giving senior JJ Faunda the opportunity to run back a 75 yard scoop and score to make it 21-0.
Later in the 2nd, David Xipolitas would show off his speed and agility, breaking multiple sack attempts and scrambling for a 38 yard touchdown to make it 28-0 Bulldogs. As the half weaned down, senior running back Angelo Angelilli would run in an 8 yard touchdown after a bad snap on the previous play of what was a Dragons punt attempt, making the lead 35-0. Vito Komara would later find the endzone again on a 20 yard touchdown from D.
Xipolitas, making it a 42-0 game at the half. The Dragons offense would finally find the endzone later in the 4th quarter, with Austin Reynolds would run it in from 1 yard out, adding 6 to the board for the Dragons, with a missed 2 point conversion making the final score 42-6.
Poland, now 6-1 and still unbeaten in NE8 play, will travel to Girard to take on the undefeated 7-0 Indians in a battle for 1st place of the NE8. The Dragons, now 0-7, will seek to get their first win as they travel to South Range in a matchup with the 4-3 Raiders next Friday night.