The Niles football team was expecting to play their first game on their new artificial turf field against Dowagiac earlier this year, but delays in installation of the turf caused the Vikings to play their entire season on the road. But Niles now knows that another rival will be the team they get to play to open their new turf field. Niles will host former SMAC rival St. Joseph on August 25, 2023. Niles and St. Joe have played exactly 100 times with the Bears leading 65-33-2. The series was paused in 2020 when the Vikings left the SMAC and joined the BCS conference before joining the Wolverine a year later. St. Joseph allowed Niles to play two of their home games at Steve Upton Field at Dickinson Stadium this fall because of the delays.
Niles planned on a public unveiling and ribbon cutting of the new field, but had to cancel because of the heavy snow that fell in the area a few weeks ago. Niles will now hold that ceremony before the girls soccer game on March 29, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. against Buchanan.
Niles will travel to another former SMAC rival Lakeshore in week 2.
