Hoover vs Uniontown Lake

Canton Repository

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

RECORDS: Lake 4-1, 2-1; Hoover 4-1, 2-0

LAST WEEK: Lake 49, Jackson 19; Hoover 38, Boardman 7.

LAST MEETING: Lake 21, Hoover 19, last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: With experienced quarterbacks, talented running backs, aggressive defenses and assorted other playmakers, this has the makings of a midseason classic. With two of the area’s better coaching staffs, expect anything.

Hoover is looking to maintain its spot atop the league. Lake does not want to fall two games off the pace. The teams have two common opponents. Each struggled defensively against Louisville’s spread, with Lake rallying from a big deficit to win while Hoover struggled in the second half and lost. They also each beat McKinley, which had won 18 straight in the league. Both teams got their offenses in high gear last week. Hoover senior QB Jared Wackerly is coming off a career game, lighting up Boardman for five TD passes. Senior WR-DB-K Matt Wakulchik gives the Vikings a big-play threat on the field at all times. Sophomore TB Erick Howard powers the Hoover running game, averaging better than 100 yards a game.

LB Kevin Dahl, DL James Georgiades and DE Greg Tischler anchor the Viking defense.

Lake counters with an offense triggered by senior QB T.J. Viscuso, a three-year starter capable with arm and legs. The 1-2 punch of Gene Onabiyi and Tyler Crowl provide Lake with a strong running attack. Defensively, the Blue Streaks, like the Vikings, pride themselves on being a solid 11-man unit.

The LB duo of Matt Higginbotham and Travis Talkington are two leaders, while Viscuso and Onabiyi do double duty in the secondary.

ALPHA DOGS

NORTH CANTON HOOVER (4-1, 2-0) The Vikings made a big statement last week by winning big at Boardman. With Lake and GlenOak the next two weeks, and Perry in Week 9, they better have plenty of bite left.

NORTHWEST (5-0, 2-0) Louisville coach Paul Farrah said it after Week 4. Canton South coach Moe Daniska echoed his sentiments the next week. The Indians are the best team either coach has seen.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC (5-0) A perfect Lowell Klinefelter team — quick, aggressive, tough. Dan McCarthy and the rest of Cardinal Mooney’s assortment of college recruits loom in Division IV, Region 13. So does a Week 9 home date with Steubenville, the other heavyweight in Region 13.

MALVERN (5-0, 2-0) It might just be the year of the Hornets. A potent running game has Malvern dreaming big in Division VI.

HUH?

MARLINGTON (5-0, 2-0) If you thought the Marlington Dukes would be 5-0, you’re lying.

Click here for photo highlights of Marlington.

GLENOAK (4-1, 1-1) A spanking by the Pups might have the Golden Eagles doubting themselves. GlenOak must get back to hard-nosed football.

MASSILLON (2-3) Times are tough in Tigertown. Were the 52 points against Mentor the start of a turnaround?

LYING IN THE WEEDS

LOUISVILLE (3-2, 1-1) The Leopards are basically four points away from being 5-0. If they clean up the turnovers and buckle down defensively, watch out Division II, Region 7.

LAKE (4-1, 2-1) No one seems to be talking about the unranked Blue Streaks. That would be big mistake. Gene Onabiyi and Tyler Crowl are the best 1-2 running punch in the county.

PERRY (4-1, 2-0) The humbling loss at Central Catholic in Week 2 knocked the Panthers down, but just briefly. They have come back hungry and look poised for another playoff run.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Uniontown Lake Blue Streaks Game Preview