Hoover swamps Central

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Joe Frollo Jr., Canton Repository

PERRY TWP. - Orange helmets flew around Central Catholic Stadium all Friday night.

Big plays followed.

Behind two special-teams touchdowns and an interception return for a score, North Canton

Hoover opened the high school football season with a 35-12 win over Central Catholic.

It took the Vikings just 12 seconds to get on the scoreboard, as Seth Allman returned the

opening kickoff 90 yards for a 7-0 lead.

The Crusaders fumbled their first snap, handing Hoover the ball at the Central 13. Kevin Dahl

took it in from 2 yards out to give Hoover a 14-0 advantage before much of the crowd had

found their seats.

Dahl, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior, said the Vikings look to make a habit of big plays.

“We were able to come out and play the type of game we want, which is quick and fast and

always on the go,” said Dahl, who added two tackles for loss and a blocked punt. “This is

one of the fastest defensive units we’ve had in a while, and everyone can make plays.”

Hoover made it 21-0 as Jared Wackerly found Matt Wakutchik behind the Central defense

for a 32-yard TD pass. They nearly hooked up again later on a 47-yard score, but the ball was

just overthrown. Wackerly was 5-of-10 for 116 yards.

Hoover’s offense collected just 197 yards and the two TDs, but the Vikings found other ways

to continue scoring.

Neil Michaels fell on the blocked punt by Dahl in the end zone, and Allman returned an

interception 39 yards for another score. Fumble recoveries by James Georgiades and

Kyle Hennis also ended Crusader drives.

“Special teams, turnovers, those are things you can practice, and we do,” said Allman,

a 5-11, 175-pound senior.

Of his two returns for scores, he added, “I got some great blocking, saw the opening and was

able to get to the end zone both times.”

Central Catholic, meanwhile, was churning out yards on the ground. Junior tailback

Max Colaner had 104 yards and a late score on 15 carries, while junior fullback

Marcello Natale added 91 yards on 15 carries.

The problem came every time junior QB Joey Rhodes dropped back as he was swarmed by

Vikings before he could set his feet. Rhodes finished 5-for-15 for 55 yards and added Central’s

other late TD on an 8-yard run.

“Boy, they’re quick. Really quick,” Central Catholic head coach Lowell Klinefelter said.

“North Canton came here ready to play, and I’m embarrassed we didn’t look ready to play.”

The Crusaders struggled with bad snaps, missed assignments and muffed punts, and the

Vikings seemed to take advantage of every one.

Hoover faced just one fourth down during the first three quarters —and Dahl scored his

touchdown on that play.

“This was a good lesson for us,” Klinefelter said. “It shows how we need to improve a lot and

come out a lot better in the future.”

Still, Hertler said he saw plenty to address when the team goes over the film. The Vikings

were outgained on the ground 210-81 and lost three fumbles. Central took the ball inside the

Hoover 35 five times before scoring.

“We are glad to be 1-0, but we need to do a better job ... blocking and get off blocks better,”

Hertler said. “We need to do a better job tackling.

“So far, we’ve shown we can make big plays, but we need to bring those 11 individuals

making plays into one unit. That’s when we’ll be a good team.”

Box Score

Hoover 35, Central Catholic 12

at Central Catholic Stadium

Hoover 21 0 14 0 — 35

Central Catholic 0 0 0 12 — 12

H—Allman 90 kickoff return (Wakulchik kick)

H—Dahl 2 run (Wakulchik kick)

H—Wakulchik 32 pass from Wackerly (Wakulchik kick)

H—N. Michaels blocked punt recovery in end zone (Wakulchik kick)

H—Allman 39 interception return (Wakulchik kick)

C—Colaner 1 run (run failed)***

C—Rhoads 8 run (kick failed)***

*** CCC 1st Offensive unit vs Hoover's 3rd Defensive unit late in the 4th quarter

Game Stats

Rushing: Hoover 26-81, Central Catholic 44-210

Passing: Hoover 5-10-116-0, Central Catholic 5-15-55-1

First downs: Hoover 7, Central Catholic 14

Fumbles-lost: Hoover 3-2, Central Catholic 2-2

Records: Hoover 1-0; Central Catholic 0-1

NETWORK

Allman (3) celebrates a fumble recovery by teammate James Georgiades on Friday at Central Catholic Stadium.

Hoover Vikings Football

Hoover Vikings Football

Canton Central Catholic Game Review

Hoover High School senior Seth Allman returns the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score and later added a 39-yard interception return for a TD as the Vikings won, 35-12. Photo by Derek Quinn