Hoover vs Louisville

Canton Repository

SITE: North Canton Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Louisville 1-1, Hoover 2-0.

LAST MEETING: Louisville won, 35-29, last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: This is the final non-league tune-up for teams looking to do big things down the road

— Hoover in the Federal League and Louisville in the NBC.

Louisville spends its second straight Friday night on the road against a Federal League opponent. The Leopards

come off a hard-fought loss at Lake, where they fell behind early before regrouping to make things interesting.

QB Ben Schmucker had 212 yards of total offense last week. He has completed 31-of-51 passes for 313 yards

with two TDs this season. WR Kyle Falk has caught 17 passes for 188 yards.

Defensively, though, Louisville yielded 332 yards last week to Lake, including a back-breaking 91-yard TD run

in the second half. Not having injured DE Kevin Sears (knee) did not help Louisville last week. Sears could be

back this week.

The Hoover offense jumped on Washington D.C. Coolidge early and often in 43-7 blowout. The Vikings relied

heavily on big plays, particularly in special teams, to win their opener. Last week, Phillip Howard ran for

113 yards and four TDs on 11 carries, as Hoover gained 201 yards on the ground. Junior WR Matt Wakulchik

caught a TD pass for the second straight week from junior QB Jared Wackerly.

Hoover’s defense also came up with three turnovers and allowed just 76 total yards. The Vikings have six

takeaways this season.

Game Note: Hoover LB Jordan Bucar returned to practice this week and is expected see action against Louisville

after sitting out of the Coolidge game due to a neck injury sustained in the Canton Central Catholic game.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Louisville Leopards Game Preview

Hoover High School senior Aaron Dodds returns a punt during last week game against Coolidge. Photo by Derek Quinn