Hoover @ Boardman

Canton Repository

SITE: Boardman Stadium, Youngstown, OH, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Hoover 7-0, Boardman 1-6.

LAST WEEK: Hoover 26, Fitch 12; Harding 43, Boardman 14.

LAST MEETING: Hoover won 37-34 last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Vikings remain the only unbeaten Division I team in the county and just one of eight big-school unbeatens in the state.

After a lackluster start last week, Hoover put it together in the second half and dominated a spirited Fitch team. There wasn't much that went wrong for the Vikings after halftime. Head coach Don Hertler Jr. is hoping his team takes a more business-like approach this week at Boardman. Hoover played flat in its first lengthy road trip of the season. At halftime, the only adjustment made was an attitude adjustment. The Vikings simply played harder in the second half. Hoover has two legitimate threats at running back, and defenses will have to honor Alex Ramsey and Mike Wright when they are on the field together. The Vikings found a lot of success in playing them at the same time. Fitch seemed intent on stopping Ramsey, and once a handoff was faked to him, it opened huge holes for Wright. He finished with 185 yards, 144 of those after halftime. Hoover's defense gave up nearly 200 yards rushing before half. The second half was different, and the Vikings' 5-3 defense played well after the intermission. Hoover's offensive line Ronnie Gnau, Jon Andrews, Mark Rose, Matt Wiley and Nate Whiteman should be credited with the team's second-half performance. The running game set up Hoover's play-action passing, and QB Sam Cerreta finished with 79 yards, including a key 34-yard pass to Brian Drukenbrod that set up a score.

Boardman is coming off a lopsided game against Harding, and the Spartans have just one win. Warren beat Boardman's secondary for two long TD passes that put Harding up by two scores early. Hoover should be aware of Boardman QB Josh Susany. He threw for 117 yards against one of the state's best defenses. The key is to pressure him and not allow him time to find running back Brad Beck down the sideline like he did against Harding. That went for a 77-yard TD.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Boardman Spartans Game Preview