Hoover @ Uniontown Lake

Canton Repository

SITE: Lake Blue Streak Stadium, Hartville, OH, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Hoover 4-1, 1-1; Lake 2-3, 0-3.

LAST MEETING: Hoover won, 21-0, last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: Expect an intense night of football from two communities that border each other. “It’s a backyard rivalry,” Hoover coach Don Hertler said. “Almost all of these games have been close. Two or three plays usually determine what happens.”

Lake needs to bounce back from three straight tough losses, two coming in crushing fashion. “It doesn’t get any easier,” Lake coach Jeff Durbin said. The Blue Streaks lost, 20-14, at Jackson last week. They allowed three TDs in the final 71⁄2 minutes, with Jackson’s winning score coming on a 69-yard run on a play that began with 1.1 seconds left. The Blue Streaks also lost to McKinley when the Bulldogs scored with 20.2 seconds left. “We know we have to play 48 minutes,” Durbin said. “We found that out with 1 second to go. We relaxed one snap and got beat.” In addition to his players needing to execute better, Durbin shouldered blame by saying he must call a better game. “I’ve been a little too conservative late in games,” he said. “I need to change my philosophies. ... We have to get the message that they can’t be afraid to make a play, to take a chance.”

Hoover has shown its ability to rebound from tough situations, coming back from a 29-6 loss at McKinley to beat Boardman, 21-14, last week. The Vikings trailed Boardman, 14-0, before Jared Wackerly threw three second-quarter TDs. “The biggest thing about (the Vikings) is their tempo,” Durbin said. “They play the game fast, offensively and defensively. We need to get in there, adjust to the tempo and tackle well and execute our offense.” Hoover’s offense has struggled to establish anything, though, Wackerly and the passing game looked outstanding in the second quarter against Boardman.

Hoover hopes to start getting healthier. RB-LB Kevin Dahl should be back. The Vikings played freshman RB-LB Erick Howard for the first time last week to fill in for the injured Dahl at Middle Linebacker , and he responded with some big plays. “I thought he held his own in there,” Hertler said. “He filled a spot for us and did his job like a lot of other kids did Friday.”

Hoover has relied heavily on its defense this season. Anchoring the stingy defense is DL James Georgiades, DL Ken Staudinger, OLB Jordan Bucar and DB Matt Wackulchik to name a few. All being recruited by DI colleges.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Uniontown Lake Blue Streaks Game Preview