Hoover vs Massillon Perry

Canton Repository

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

RECORDS: Perry 7-1, 4-1; Hoover 6-2, 3-2.

LAST MEETING: Perry won, 35-21, last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: Unless Jackson upsets McKinley on Friday, the Federal League race is decided.

Perry will be pulling for Jackson, because a McKinley loss coupled with a Panther win could force a split for the league title. Beyond that, Perry needs positioning in playoff points. It looks like the Panthers could host a playoff game, but their hold on fourth in the rankings is tenuous.

Hoover, on the other hand, needs to win to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Vikings, 10th in the computer rankings, finish with Perry and Jackson and can move into the top eight with wins. Hoover has won two straight, with its defense giving up a total of 7 points in those games against GlenOak and Fitch. None of Hoover's previous six wins have come against a team with a winning record.

Matt Wakulchik provided all of the Vikings' points last week. He returned a kick 90 yards for a TD and converted a game-winning 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. This likely will be a short, low-scoring game.

Matt Wakulchik along with senior DT Ken Staudinger, senior LB Jordan Bucar, junior DL James Georgiades and senior LB Scott Gnau anchor the Hoover defense.

Perry will try to shorten the game, but coach John Miller was impressed with the way QB John Hyde played in his first start. The Panthers likely will play Hyde and Matthew Vick. Hyde ran for a game-high 138 yards last week. It isn't impossible to see both Vick and Hyde on the field at the same time.

Perry's ground game vs Hoover's run defense.

Perry - 264 rushing yards per game average

Last two games against Jackson & McKinley - 295 yards per game

Perry's run offense points per game average - 19

Hoover's run defense - 129 rushing yards per game average

Last two games against GlenOak and Fitch - 73 yards per game

Hoover's run defense points per game allowed - 6.75

Perry run offense by the numbers

42 - 297 vs Jackson, Jackson's Total Offense - 283

35 - 295 vs McKinley, McKinley's Total Offense - 464

48 - 282 vs Boardman, Boardman's Total Offense - 206

29 - 210 vs Fitch, Fitch's Total Offense - 162