Submitted photo / Memory Lane Photography The 2024 Niles McKinley High School football team.

NILES — Niles McKinley High football fans are hoping that the Chinese calendar will bring good fortunes to the Red Dragons in 2024.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. This is the ninth Chinese “Year of the Dragon” since 1916. The Niles football team has never had a losing season during a Year of the Dragon. Records include 4-2-1 (1916), 4-3-2 (1928), 7-2-1 (1940), 7-2 (1952), 8-2 (1964), 7-2-1 (1976), 7-3 (1988), 11-2 (2000) and most recently 8-3 (2012). That’s an overall record of 63-21-5, a 75% winning percentage.

For the trend to continue in 2024, the Red Dragons will have to put a lot of pieces in place in a short period of time.

A year ago Niles went 7-5, which included a home playoff win over Edgewood. However the Dragons lost a wealth of talent to graduation, including All-Ohio running back Antuan Gardner, who set numerous school single-season and career records. Also gone is two-year starting quarterback Anthony Budak, who threw for 1,212 yards last fall. Niles lost numerous other skill position players to graduation, while two other expected two-way starters transferred out of the district.

“How fast can we grow in some of the important positions, that’s really going to determine how far we can go as a team,” head coach Jim Parry said. “We have questions at the quarterback spot. We have a lot of youth in the secondary. I do like our skill, but they are for the most part inexperienced and it’s different when the lights go on.

“We’re going to have to grow up in a hurry and the challenge is that we have a very tough schedule. This has been a very up and down summer to this point, which is what we kind of expected. We see the talent, we see the skill, but at the same time we see the inexperience. But that’s part of the learning process. It’s part of the fun in what we do.”

On paper, it does appear as though it could be an uphill battle for the Red Dragons. However, senior lineman Chris Macioce says he and his teammates more than welcome the challenge.

“We love it, we’re psyched and we can’t wait to get at it,” Macioce said. “We’re young in some sports for sure. We do have a lot to learn in terms of coming together as a team. But the thing is we have a lot of talented players so it’s just a matter of putting things together and making it all happen, and it will happen.

“I’m especially focused because as a senior it’s my job and the job of all the seniors to help lead the rebuilding process. It’s our turn to kind of take control and lead the players who don’t have a lot of varsity experience. We want to guide the younger players but at the same time we want this to be fun. We want them to love this game the way we do.”

Macioce is also excited in knowing that he and his fellow linemen will perhaps be the focal point of the Dragons offense.

“Last year all the focus was on Antuan (Gardner) and rightfully so, he deserved all the credit and more,” Macioce said. “He carried this team. Now we’re the unit with the experience and we know we have to make things happen for the guys behind us. We’re excited and we are okay with those high expectations.”

Macioce is one of 15 seniors and 10 lettermen on the roster. The Dragons return six starters on offense and five on defense.

OFFENSE

With five experienced players returning up front, the Dragons will indeed lean on the front line to carry the load. Macioce was a First-Team All-NE8 selection as a junior. Senior Greg Rowley started all 12 games a year ago. Mason Cormell, Nico Whetstone, Frank Emerson and Tyler Polling all bring experience up front.

“If you would ask me if I’d rather have an experienced line with no experience at the skilled positions, or vice versa, I’d definitely take the experienced line so this is something to lean on,” Parry said.

Niles entered camp with four players vying for the starting quarterback role — seniors Dom Medicus and Antonio Croal, along with sophomore Germaine Dean and freshman Joey Lehman.

“This is going to come down to which skill-set we want to go with because the four of them are all pretty different,” Parry said. “The nice thing is they’re different, but that also presents a challenge. You almost have to change who you are depending on what route we go (at quarterback).”

Dean and Lehman appear to have the edge.

“Germaine is typically what you would describe as an athlete playing quarterback, while Joey is a quarterback who is a pretty good athlete,” Parry said. “Joey is more of the prototypical quarterback that we’ve had at Niles while I’ve been here.”

Senior D’onte Williams will be the featured running back. Senior Xavier Bradley and Dean will also get their share of carries.

“Last year we knew what we had at running back and quarterback, our opponents knew what to expect,” Parry said. “This year we are going to provide some different looks. We’ll do some things that are tailored to our kids.”

Senior Cody Sayers is the lone returning wide receiver. Senior Avon Fryer, who played during his sophomore season, returns to the roster. Dean, along with a wealth of underclassmen will also be targets.

“We do have a lot of skilled wide receivers, it’s just that they lack experience,” Parry said.

DEFENSE

Macioce, Whetstone and Cormell will also bring their experience up front on defense.

Williams — a first-team All-League selection last fall — will lead the linebacking corps. Bradley, whose season was cut short by an injury a year ago, returns as a starting linebacker. Sayers also brings some experience at linebacker, while freshman Nick Cvengros has led a group of underclassmen vying for playing time.

Dean returns to the defensive backfield after starting as a freshman. Sophomore Vinnie Broll found himself in the rotation at the end of the 2023 season. Beyond that, there will be a lot of inexperience at the corner and safety positions.

“Again, we have some skilled players who can work into roles on defense, but it’s a matter of gaining experience and only comes with reps and with playing time,” Parry said.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Niles lost its starting kicker — an All-League selection — by way of transfer. Senior Jake Holloway, a soccer player, will likely fill the void. Parry noted that the punting duties are currently “by committee.” Parry says Broll “is a natural” as a kickoff and punt returner.

Williams and sophomore Takees Fambro should also be featured in the return game.

The Red Dragons open the season at Howland on Aug. 22.

Have an interesting story? Contact the Sports Department, at sports@tribtoday.com. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @TribChronSports.