Hoover @ Canton Central Catholic

Canton Repository

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

LAST YEAR’S RECORDS: Hoover 7-4, Central 9-4.

LAST MEETING: Hoover won 17-14 last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: Two playoff teams from a year ago open against each other for the

second straight year.

Hoover is coming off a decent showing in a triangular scrimmage with Warren Harding

and Mentor. The scores were Hoover - 1, Mentor - 1; Harding - 1, Hoover - 0;

Mentor - 2, Harding - 1. The low offensive output from all three teams could reflect the

need for better execution or the fact that all three defenses were at midseason form.

Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. would like to see more fire from his players.

Central moved the ball well in its last scrimmage, dominating Canton South. QB Joey Rhoads was solid running and throwing the ball. “He makes their offense go,” Hertler said. “I’m real impressed with the strong side of their (offensive) line.”

Hoover’s offense will feature 11 new starters, including QB Jared Wackerly.

Defensively, Hoover has plenty of experience and will need strong play on that side.

Game Note: Eight defensive starters return. Senior LB Jordan Bucar returns as Hoover’s top tackler from a year ago with 114 stops. Joining Bucar are senior DE Blaine Maze, senior DT Ken Staudinger, senior DB Seth Allman, senior DB Aaaron Dodds, junior LB Kevin Dahl, junior DB Matt Wakulchik and junior NG James Georgiades.

Central also has people back on defense, led by DL Brandon Jared and SS Jon Friedman. “Defensively, I’m impressed with their linebackers and secondary guys, and how they run,” Hertler said. “They’re going to make you earn it. You know they’re not going to be out of position, and they’ll be very well prepared.”

Expect a physical night of football at Central Stadium when Hoover and Central Catholic meet. Each team reached the playoffs last year.

For Hoover to get back to postseason, the Vikings need to make due with 11 new starters on offense and a new kicking game.

“We have to play very good defense early in the year here until our offensive line and our timing comes together offensively,” Hertler said.

The kicking game is of particular concern, since the Vikings won a number of games by excelling there last year. Mitch Rose and Jeff Meek are candidates at punter, while the kickers are Dan Rambacher and Matt Wakulchik.

Another concern to Hertler is the lack of emotion he saw from his players in their scrimmage last week.

“We didn’t play as hard as I’d like,” he said.

Hoover has made the playoffs eight of the last nine years, and passion for the game fueled those teams.

“If you’re going to have a good season, you have to play 10 weeks at a high level emotionally and play together,” Hertler said. “It’s not easy to do that all 10 weeks. But we do need to get off to a good start.

“... They have goals, and they’re a pretty focused group. Its pretty important to them.”

NETWORK

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Hoover's junior signal caller Jared Wackerly during an intersquad scrimmage.