Hoover vs Canton Central Catholic

Canton Repository

SITE: North Canton Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

2004 RECORDS: Central 6-4, Hoover 1-9.

LAST MEETING: Central won 39-18 in 1971.

WHAT TO WATCH: Two seniors QBs are entering their first year as starters. Kyle McBride will be under center for Central, and he will have a couple of veterans to look to at the skill positions around him. Senior RB Charles Saulter rushed for 918 yards last year. Senior WR Mitchell Anderson caught four TD passes during two scrimmages last week.

Hoover’s senior QB is Josh Nettleton, who saw extensive action late in the year. He looked good at times, and Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. likes his work ethic.

The Vikings, though, don’t have any other skill position players around him with much varsity experience. They do have a line featuring a couple of returning starters, G Ron Gnau and C Evan Merten. Hertler said his team lacked consistency offensively in its scrimmages and is still looking for an identity.

Each team has a handful of defensive starters back. Senior LB Brent Crawford is Central’s top returning tackler with 62 stops.

Hoover's returning defensive starters from last year include: senior DE Zac Cochenour, junior DT Ken Staudinger, senior DE Kyle Robbins and junior OLB Jordan Bucar.

North Canton’s defense played strong in scrimmages. “The thing we have to deal with is Hoover is very aggressive defensively,” Central coach Lowell Klinefelter said. “Whenever Hoover is very good, they’re great on defense; they run to the ball like wild people.”

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Hoover Vikings Football

Canton Central Catholic Crusaders Game Preview