Hoover vs Canton GlenOak

Canton Repository

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

RECORDS: GlenOak 4-2, 1-2; Hoover 5-1, 3-0.

LAST WEEK: Jackson 19, GlenOak 13; Hoover 42, Lake 21.

LAST MEETING: Hoover won, 28-0, last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Vikings are easily the league's hottest team, beating a good Lake easily last week and Boardman the week before.

GlenOak is headed in the opposite direction, having lost the last two weeks. Just don't expect Hoover to come in too confident.

Vikings coach Don Hertler Jr. views GlenOak as a dangerous team. "They run well on defense and have two great skill kids," he said. "They're still in the playoff hunt and still have a lot to play for. Their coming off a couple of tough losses, but they definitely weren't blown out." GlenOak's top skill kids are RB Anthony Smith and QB Justin Szink.

Hoover counters with RB Erick Howard, QB Jared Wackerly and WR Matt Wakulchik. "They have it all," GlenOak coach Scott Garcia said. GlenOak's ability to establish a running game will play a big part in enabling the Golden Eagles to control the Vikings offense. "We have to play ball control, and we're going to have to do some things to put points on the board," Garcia said. "(The Vikings) have done it all year long... We're going to have to be on top of our game."

Injuries are a concern for each team. Hoover could be without LB-TE Kevin Dahl, an impact player on both sides. LB-RB Phillip Howard, though, should see more action after making his debut last week. GlenOak will not have two-way lineman Rob Conley and LB Adam Steiner for the second straight week.

Hoover on roll, but team has (not) reached goals - yet

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

NORTH CANTON Music blared from loudspeakers. Voices shouted over top

the music.

It was the typical sounds of celebration inside the Hoover High School football's

team's locker room after a big win.

That was last Friday night. By Monday afternoon, the Vikings got back to work

for their next challenge - Friday's visit by GlenOak.

"We haven't reached any of our goals yet," said Hoover head coach

Don Hertler Jr., whose team is 5-1, 3-0 in the Federal League. "We haven't won

the league and we're not in the playoffs, so we haven't reached any of our goals.

"We need to play our last four games one game at a time. I know it's cliché,

but it's what we have to do."

Hoover is the lone unbeaten team in league games and has played its best football the last three weeks. The players know exactly why.

"We've had a good three weeks of practice," receiver-cornerback Matt Wakulchik said after last week's 42-21 win over Lake.

Quarterback Jared Wackerly quickly added that they know "how they practice all week shows on Fridays."

What showed last week was a high-powered offense, an improving defense making plays and good special teams.

"I think we had a pretty good night," Hertler said.

From the line to the skill positions, not much went wrong offensively. The trio of Wackerly, Wakulchik and tailback Erick Howard each had big nights, which has become the norm for them.

Linemen Kenny Moore, Alex Huth, Dom Boyle, James Georgiades and Tarek Nusseibeh paved the way with tight end Jason Draime and fullback Mitch Rose.

"We stayed with blocks better, were more physical, and did a good job with pass protection," Hertler said.

Defensively, Hoover overcame the loss of inside linebacker Kevin Dahl, who suffered an ankle injury early.

Howard, his older brother Phillip Howard and Roman Musisca each stepped in to fill the void. Phillip Howard was making his season debut after missing the first five weeks with an injury.

Dahl's status this week is uncertain.

"It's the time of year where you're going to get guys injured," Hertler said. "You just have to look at other guys who have to step in and do the job."

Has GlenOak learned its lesson in time?

Friday, October 5, 2007

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

Early success has led to some tough learning experiences of late for the GlenOak High School football team.

The Golden Eagles have lost two straight since a 4-0 start. On paper, at least, both losses came in games GlenOak looked to be the favorite. McKinley and Jackson were a combined 1-8 before beating the Eagles.

"They've learned they have to respect their opponents and have to come to work every day to get better," GlenOak head coach Scott Garcia said of his players. "You're either getting better or getting worse, and I can't say we've gotten better the last two weeks."

With a trip to North Canton Hoover to play the Federal League's top team at 7:30, the Eagles have it tough tonight.

"We're really going to have to dig in and focus," Garcia said. "North Canton is probably the best team we'll play all year. We have to come out ready to go."

The Eagles did not do that in a 19-13 loss to Jackson last week. Garcia thought his team "kind of went through the motions" in the first half. The Eagles looked sharper in the second half, but it was too late.

Garcia said the Eagles have to turn things around in practice to get back to winning on Friday nights.

"We haven't had a good practice for the McKinley week and the Jackson week," he said. "I don't know quite what to put the blame on. We weren't ready to go those two weeks, and it's my job to get that done."

SPARTANS UNITE Boardman opened some eyes last week with its 42-6 beating of Perry. It came just one week after the Spartans were dropped, 38-7, by Hoover. The Spartans are 4-2 overall, so it looks like last week's win is more of an indication of the type of team they are this season. "They are just a very physical football team that has a lot of confidence," Perry coach John "Spider" Miller said. The Spartans lost a series of close games last year but appear to be getting over the hump this fall. "They really look like they believe in what they're doing," Miller said.

MILESTONE WATCH Jackson head coach Thom McDaniels is a win shy of 200 for his career. The Polar Bears host Fitch tonight at 7:30. McDaniels is 199-67, which includes a state title in 1997 at McKinley.

NEARING A GRAND GlenOak senior Anthony Smith looks like he will be the first of several Federal League running backs to crack the 1,000-yard mark. Smith enters tonight with 913 yards. Also ready to eclipse the mark in a week or two are Hoover's Erick Howard (789 yards), Lake's Gene Onabiyi (744) and McKinley's Monterae Williams (730 entering Thursday's game). Others who could get there are Perry's Eric Magnacca (653), Jackson's Carlin Isles (608) and Lake's Tyler Crowl (605).

PLAYMAKER Hoover senior Matt Wakulchik is far and away the league leader in receiving with 34 catches for 558 yards and eight touchdowns. He caught four TD passes from Jared Wackerly a week ago. Wakulchik has 840 all-purpose yards and has kicked three field goals and 21 PATs and scored 86 points. "He ranks up there with the best of them," GlenOak coach Scott Garcia said. "The kid's made plays his whole career." Wackerly is easily the league's top passer, too, with 1,222 yards and 16 TDs. He has completed 60.2 percent of his throws.

Stark County Football Stats

Scoring TD 2pt PAT/FG Pts

Matt Wakulchik, Hoover 9 1 21/3 86

David Alexander, Malvern 14 0 0/0 84

Steven Spillman, Tus. Val. 13 2 0/0 82

Anthony Smith, GlenOak 13 0 0/0 78

John Pettigrew, CVCA 12 0 0/0 72

Erick Howard, Hoover 11 0 0/0 66

Gene Onabiyi, Lake 11 0 0/0 66

Jared Kusar, CVCA 10 0 0/0 60

T.Dummermuth, New Phil. 10 0 0/0 60

RUSHING No Yds Avg