Vikings hang on in wild one

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Canton Repository

NORTH CANTON The Vikings jumped out to a 34-7 second-quarter lead before Licking Valley made it interesting at Memorial Stadium.

Erick Howard ran for 207 yards and three touchdowns as five Vikings scored touchdowns in the first half.

Matt Wakulchik opened the scoring with a 48-yard TD run. Greg Beck then caught a 15-yard TD from Jared Wackerly.

After Licking Valley cut the deficit to 12-7 on Storm Kline's 3-yard run, Howard scored from 66 yards out, Dan Nettleton caught a 30-yard TD pass, Wakulchik had a 57-yard TD grab, and Howard closed the run with a 2-yard run into the end zone.

Licking Valley scored 20 unanswered points in the third quarter as Kline, a junior tailback who has an offer from Ohio State, scored again while Nick Phillips ran for, threw for and returned an interception for TDs.

Howard's 2-yard touchdown, though, gave Hoover the room it needed to hold off Licking Valley and improve to 2-0.

Wackerly was 11-of-14 for 151 yards. Four of those passes when to Wakulchik for 70 yards.

Box Score

Hoover 45, Licking Valley 40

North Canton Memorial Stadium

Licking Valley 7 7 20 6 - 40

Hoover 25 14 0 6 - 45

H-Wakulchik 48 run (kick failed)

H-Beck 15 pass from Wackerly (pass failed)

LV-Kline 3 run (Balko kick)

H-E. Howard 66 run (kick failed)

H-Nettleton 30 pass from Wackerly (Wakulchik kick)

H-Wakulchik 57 pass from Wackerly (Wakulchik kick)

H-E. Howard 2 run (Wakulchik kick)

LV-Phillips 10 run (Balko kick)

LV-Druman 3 pass from Phillips (Balko kick)

LV-Kline 1 run (Balko kick)

LV-Phillips 35 interception return (pass failed)

H-E. Howard 2 run (kick failed)

LV-Kline 12 run (kick failed)

Game Stats

First Downs: LV -14 Hoover - 21

Rushes-yards: LV - 32-184 Hoover - 43-318

Comp-Att-Int: LV - 12-20-2 Hoover - 11-14-1

Passing yards: LV - 181 Hoover - 151

Fumbles-Lost: LV - 2-1 Hoover - 0-0

Records: Licking Valley 1-1, Hoover 2-0

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Newark Licking Valley Game Review

Hoover High School seniors Kevin Dahl (6), Kenny Moore (down lineman) and junior Tim Hartzell prepare for a goaline stand against Newark Licking Valley. Photo by Lindsey Quinn