Hoover vs Canton McKinley

Canton Repository

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

RECORDS: McKinley 8-0, 6-0; Hoover 6-2, 4-1.

WHAT TO WATCH: McKinley can lock up an outright Federal League title in its second year in the league with a win. The Bulldogs will need to bring the same intensity to this road game that they came with to Jackson last week. McKinley coach Brian Cross said Hoover is tough to prepare for because of its offensive versatility. “They almost have two offensive sets,” Cross said. “In one they come out and run the ball at you, and in another it’s one back or no back, and they throw the ball all over.” Cross said his defense must be prepared for both looks. “They do both of them well,” Cross said. Hoover QB Josh Nettleton has completed 52.4 percent of his passes for 1,212 yards with 14 TDs and 12 interceptions. Cross said Nettleton is “very sound, he’s making good choices, and he throws a nice ball.”

Four Vikings have 11 or more catches, led by Kyle Feinberg (35 for 369) and Matt Wakulchik (24 for 353). Those two have combined for nine TD catches. The Vikings average 101.8 yards rushing per game.

Hoover’s 5-3 defense will be a new look for the Bulldogs. “It’s an eight-man front we don’t see all year long, and it changes your blocking schemes,” Cross said. McKinley will need to account for Hoover MLB Jordan Bucar who registered 15 tackles and 1 sack against Perry.

McKinley’s offensive line is coming off a strong performance that enabled the Bulldogs to rush for 296 yards last week. Junior TB Morgan Williams averages 170.8 yards per game. The Bulldogs also are getting good productivity from FBs Mike Kirksey and Demetres Hall. The running game opens the play-action passing combination of QB Dan Grimsley to WR Joe Morgan. Morgan has a TD catch in all seven games he has played. McKinley has 19 offensive scores (24 overall) of 30 or more yards. “They’ve got a great running game and all of their backs, including the quarterback, can take it all the way on every snap,” Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “And with their vertical passing game, and even their short passing game, they can catch it and go all the way every time. Their stats speak for themselves.”

McKinley’s defense scored its third TD of the season when D.C. Alexander went 98 yards with a fumble return last week. Senior DB Harriel Moore forced that fumble and intercepted a pass that led to another Bulldog TD. McKinley’s defense has limited opponents to 173 or fewer total yards five times this season, including the last three games. “Defensively, they’re fairly basic,” Hertler said. “They just line up and come at you, and their closing speed is really, really good.”

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Canton Mckinley Bulldogs Game Preview