Hoover (10-2) vs. Brunswick (12-0)

Regional Final

Canton Repository

SITE: Parma’s Byers Field, Parma, OH, 7:00 p.m.

LAST WEEK: Hoover 21, Nordonia 14 (OT); Brunswick 37, Tol. Whitmer 23.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Hoover is making its 15th playoff appearance, first since 2005. The Vikings are 11-14 all-time in the postseason, finishing as state runner-up in 1984. The Vikings have never won more than two playoff games in one season, and this is their first regional final since losing 27-7 to Massillon in 2001. Brunswick is in the playoffs for the seventh straight season,11th time overall. The Blue Devils are 12-10 in the postseason, finishing as the state runner-up in 1995. They have been eliminated by McKinley the last three years — 35-14 in the 2004 regional finals, 35-17 in the 2005 regional quarterfinals and 45-27 in the 2006 regional semifinals.

WHAT TO WATCH: Each team has a big-play offense and a strong defense. The game features two players who shared honors as the Northeast Inland District offensive player of the year — Hoover WR Matt Wakulchik and Brunswick QB Sean Bedevelsky. Wakulchik has caught 23 passes for 260 yards and three TDs in the playoffs. The senior also has kicked three postseason field goals and had a clutch 61-yard kickoff return last week. Bedevelsky, approaching 3,000 yards passing this season, is proving to be the ultimate big-game player. He has set the school’s single-game passing yards record in each of his last three playoff games — 337 in a loss to McKinley last year, 383 two weeks ago over GlenOak and 390 last week.

Jordan Gribble, Medina County’s career receiving leader, is his favorite target. Ben Karaba also is dangerous. Gribble and Karaba each caught eight passes last week for 188 and 172 yards, respectively. Bedevelsky is a threat to run, as is Britt Musal. The Blue Devils keep teams off balance with reverses and counters.

The Vikings are comfortable attacking teams passing or running. The healthy return of senior TB Phillip Howard gives them a 1-2 punch along with younger brother, Erick Howard. Senior QB Jared Wackerly has Wakulchik as his go-to guy, but he makes efficient use of others, such as FB Mitch Rose and TE Kevin Dahl.

The defense is led by Dahl at MLB and DT James Georgiades. Hoover ends Dom Boyle and Greg Tischler were active last week. Tischler had two sacks and a QB hurry that resulted in one of two interceptions by Joe Cerreta. Boyle recovered a fumble and also was in on several plays in the backfield.

Both teams have shown resiliency in the postseason. Brunswick trailed 17-10 in the third quarter before pulling away to stay unbeaten last week. Hoover rallied from a 16-0 third-quarter deficit in the first round, and each won playoff game in overtime.

Brunswick, Hoover to face off

Monday, Nov 12, 2007

For the past three seasons, the Brunswick Blue Devils' hopes for a Division I state football championship have ended at the hands of a Stark County opponent. In the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons, Brunswick lost playoff games to Canton McKinley. North Canton Hoover hopes to make it four.

The teams meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Byers Field in Parma with the Region 2 title on the line. The Blue Devils (12-0) topped Toledo Whitmer 37-23 on Saturday, and the Vikings (10-2) ousted Nordonia 21-14 in overtime.

Only two other teams in the Beacon Journal's five-county coverage area survived Week 2 of the playoffs: Northeastern Buckeye Conference members Northwest and Louisville. They play at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Louisville (10-2) will meet Columbus DeSales (12-0) at Lexington High School in the Division II, Region 7 title game. Northwest (12-0) travels to New Philadelphia to meet Newark Licking Valley (11-1) at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium for the Division III, Region 11 crown. Licking Valley's lone loss came Aug. 31 at Hoover.

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Brunswick Blue Devils Game Preview