North Canton Hoover Vikings Football 2003 Game Previews

Hoover @ Jackson

SITE: Robert Fife Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Hoover 6-3, 3-3; Jackson 5-4, 4-2.

LAST MEETING: Hoover won, 10-7, last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: A year ago, Hoover beat Jackson to solidify a playoff spot, and ultimately ended the Polar Bears' hopes of a postseason berth. Jackson hopes to return the favor this week. Both teams are still alive for the playoffs but are on the bubble. Jackson sits in 11th place (three spots from the last qualifying spot), and Hoover is in 14th. These are two evenly matched teams with identical records. The only difference is in league play where Jackson is a game better because it beat Lake, 20-14, and Hoover lost to the Blue Streaks, 21-19.

Last week against McKinley, Jackson did a decent job in the first half, but eventually gave up big plays. The Bulldogs had two long TDs, one rushing, one passing against the Jackson defense. The Polar Bears had a tough time moving the ball on the ground against McKinley but ended up with 122 yards rushing. QB Brett Stefan was under constant duress, something

Hoover's aggressive 50 defense will try to duplicate. Stefan threw a TD pass to Curtis Murphy a week ago.

Jackson needs to get off to a good start. It lost a ton of momentum when it fumbled on the first play from scrimmage last week. Both teams have struggled with turnovers.

Hoover turned the ball over five times in a 12-0 loss to Perry. The Viking offense had a tough time, gaining just 78 yards on the ground and 79 in the air. Hoover needs to establish the running game. The Polar Bears have a solid defensive scheme and surely they've seen that Hoover QB Jared Wackerly is a different passer when he doesn't have time to throw. If Jackson is able to get consistent pressure on Wackerly, the Polar Bears will have a good chance at winning this game.

Note: For the Vikings to win, they will need to rely on their swarming defense to keep Carlin Isles in check. Hoover's defense last week against Perry was given the daunting task of holding the Perry Panthers from scoring when Perry was given the ball inside Hoover's 10 yard line three times. Hoover's defense came through holding Perry to just 3 points in those three short field possessions.

Hoover's Playoff Chances

The following must occur:

1. The Vikes must beat Jackson

2. Four of the following five teams MUST lose, as their mins all exceed Hoover's max: Toledo St. John's, Toledo Whitmer, Perrysburg, Wadsworth, and Hudson.

3. Pick up L2 points from CCC, Louisville, GlenOak

4. Washington D.C. High School football is cancelled for another week (Trainer Strike) reducing our L2 divisor to 98.

Closer Look

Projections:

Toledo St. John's (7-2) lose to Toledo Central Catholic (9-0)

Hudson (6-3) lose to Nordonia (8-1)

Perrysburg (6-3) vs Sylvania Southview (6-3) toss-up

Wadsworth (7-2) vs Tallmadge (7-2) toss-up

Toledo Whitmer (6-3) defeats Toledo Start (5-4)

Should Steele (6-3) vs Avon Lake (6-3), or Elyria (6-3) vs Medina (8-3) win, they could eclipse Hoover.

L2 Closer Look:

CCC plays St Thomas Aquinas - too close to call