McKinley, Hoover enter season with matching 3-0 starts

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

Emotional wins kept the McKinley and North Canton Hoover high school football teams

unbeaten last weekend.

Their reward for being 3-0: Saturday night’s 7:30 matchup at Fawcett Stadium.

“I don’t mind at all,” McKinley coach Brian Cross said. “The only way you’re going to get

better is you’ve got to learn to play games like this.”

McKinley is the defending Federal League champ, while Hoover finished second a year ago.

McKinley and Hoover were picked to finish 1-2 by league coaches this year.

“It’s a great matchup for this early in the year,” Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. said.

Each team needed to rally in the fourth quarter to remain unbeaten last week. McKinley

used a 15-play, 81-yard touchdown drive to score with 20.2 seconds left and win 24-20 at

Lake. Hoover used three fourth-quarter TDs to beat Louisville, 25-7, after trailing 7-6 after

three quarters.

“I think McKinley and us are in the same boat,” Hertler said. “We both won

tough games and both need to get better.”

Each team has a number of key returnees from last year’s playoff teams.

But the Bulldogs and Vikings also are breaking in a number of first-year starters, especially up front.

In fact, Hoover has 11 new full-time starters on offense. That does not mean the Vikings lack the ability to move the ball. Junior quarterback Jared Wackerly is coming along. He has good receivers such as Matt Wakulchik, Mitch Rose and Seth Allman. And the Vikings have several running backs, including Phillip Howard, Kevin Dahl, Scott Gnau and Dan Rambacher.

“What they’re going to do is throw the football ... well,” Cross said. “Their quarterback is good, they have nice-sized receivers and a big tight end. They create problems because they throw it on any down and from anywhere on the field. It’s something you have to defend.”

LB's Jordan Bucar, Kevin Dahl and Scott Gnau are among the top playmakers in Hoover’s 5-3 defense. Allman and Wakulchik also have two interceptions a piece in the secondary.

“They come at you from every angle possible,” Cross said. They’re very blitz happy, and they’ll play man-to-man behind it and a little bit of zone.

“It’s one of those defenses where when you catch it just right, you have a chance to make big plays. But they’ll make big plays on you also. You have to be patient.”

McKinley did hit Hoover with big plays last year in beating the Vikings, 39-10, at North Canton Memorial Stadium. But that was a veteran McKinley team, and Hoover also was without some injured players.

“They’ll be a different group coming in here,” Cross said. “They’ll definitely have confidence.”

McKinley also will have plenty of confidence. The Bulldogs have won 24 of their last 26 games, 18 straight in the regular season.

“Offensively, they’re awfully good and defensively, they’re always good,” Hertler said. “And they have a great kicker (Zack Campbell).”

Hertler says the Bulldogs have another intangible that is a must-have for any good team.

“I don’t think Coach Cross and his staff get enough credit for what they do,” Hertler said. “Yes, they have a lot of talent, but they also are extremely well coached. They know what they want to do and do it well.”

Defensively, defensive lineman Darius Williams and linebacker Disi Alexander lead the way.

McKinley’s offense is led by all-state tailback Morgan Williams and second-year quarterback Dan Grimsley. An inexperienced line, featuring only one returning starter (center Drew McIntyre), is coming along. So are new receivers Kenyad Blair and Lonnie Richardson.

The Bulldogs showed what they could do offensively with their game-winning drive in the final 4:42 at Lake.

“That last drive was very impressive,” Hertler said. “They mixed the run and the pass well. They took their time and executed down the stretch.”

A similar drive may be needed by either team Saturday. If that happens, it will not surprise either coach.

Hertler knows this will be a tremendous test for his team.

“In order to be the champion you have to beat the champions, and they’re the defending champion,” Hertler said.

Cross enters the game with a similar mind-set.

“If you want to be a good football team, you have to be ready to accept challenges,” Cross said. “I’m happy it’ll be at our place. I think it’s going to be another barnburner.”

NETWORK

ON THE MOVE Junior tailback Phillip Howard has helped Hoover get off to a 3-0 start this season, rushing for 213 yards and four touchdowns. The Vikings face their biggest test so far this season with McKinley on Saturday night. Photo by Repository Bob Rossiter

Hoover Vikings Football

Hoover Vikings Football

Canton McKinley Bulldogs Game Preview