Intangibles determine Hoover, Lake playoff chances

Friday, October 13, 2006

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

Talk of talent and returning lettermen had the Hoover and Lake football teams regarded as preseason playoff contenders. That was eight weeks ago.

The Vikings and Blue Streaks now realize if they are to play beyond Week 10 of the high school season, it will be because of intangibles such as chemistry, attitude, toughness and character. Those intangibles have revealed themselves lately as each battle for a playoff berth.

³We played with a lot of emotion last week, and you¹ve got to play with emotion and have fun,² said Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr., whose team improved to 5-2 by shutting out GlenOak last week.

Lake is 4-3 after winning its last two, knocking off Hoover two weeks ago before winning at Boardman last week. The Blue Streaks won that game minus tailback-linebacker Josh McCutcheon and offensive lineman Drew Ballinger.

³I¹ve been happy with the way we¹ve responded when we¹ve had adversity,² Lake coach Jeff Durbin said. ³We¹ve had other kids pick up the slack.²

Hoover, in Division I, and Lake, in Division II, sit outside the eight qualifiers that make the playoffs in their respective regions. But both have a good chance at getting into the postseason, especially if they win out.

Durbin said his Streaks, ³have come to play every week so far, except maybe one where we were absent mentally.²

He had high praise for their effort the last two weeks.

³I hope the kids understand that when you come to play hard, good things happen,² Durbin said. ³We need to continue that down the stretch.²

Hertler is trying to make sure his Vikings play with a similar mindset. He wants to see his players leave the locker room ready to play 48 minutes with emotion and passion. He knows that¹s not easy.

That¹s why he expects his seniors to lead by example.

³Those guys have to bring emotion every Friday night for us,² he said. ³Kids feed off of that. ... When you play together and play with emotion, you have a chance to have good things happen.²

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