Hoover @ Canton McKinley

Canton Repository

SITE: Fawcett Stadium, Canton, OH, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: North Canton 1-7, 1-4; McKinley 5-3, 4-2.

LAST WEEK: Perry 24, North Canton 20; McKinley 28, Jackson 0.

LAST MEETING: North Canton won 19-0 a year ago.

WHAT TO WATCH: Senior TB Ryan Brinson looks to extend his remarkable run of the last three weeks. He has gained 927 yards during that span, averaging 15 yards a carry. McKinley coach Brian Cross, though, wants his offense to become more than Brinson. “We’ve got to get our passing game out of the closet,” Cross said. “It’s been tucked away, but we’ve got to get going again because it will definitely make our offense that much harder to defend ... We’re capable of throwing. We have the receivers, and we have quarterbacks who can throw. We just have to put it all together.”

Junior Kalvin Martin started the last two games at QB after three-year starter Mike Shaffer suffered an injury three weeks ago. But Shaffer returned last week and split time with Martin. As for this week’s starter, Cross said, “We’ll see who has the best week of practice and go from there. Both played well last week.” Cross experimented with Brinson at QB, using him out of the shotgun one series.

North Canton has been unable to generate a running game, relying almost exclusively on the throwing of QB Jason Foote. He has thrown for 530 yards the last two weeks, with the Vikings using a five-receiver, shotgun attack. He nearly led the Vikings to an upset of unbeaten Austintown Fitch two weeks ago. “They scored 27 points against Fitch, more than anyone else,” Cross said. “They’ve got nice receivers and the quarterback can really throw. It’s scary watching them drop back and throw every time.” WR Nathan Logan had 10 catches for 164 yards a week ago, including an 80-yard TD. Joe Pope and Sean Kostelnik are the other top receivers.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Canton McKinley Bulldogs Game Preview