Hoover vs. Macedonia Nordonia

Regional Semifinal

Canton Repsoitory

SITE: Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Massillon, OH, 7:00 p.m.

RECORDS: Hoover 9-2; Nordonia 10-1.

LAST WEEK: Hoover 40, Toledo St. John’s 33 (5 OT); Nordonia 43, Perrysburg 21.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Hoover is making its 15th postseason appearance and is 10-14 in playoff games. The Vikings have been in the playoffs nine times in coach Don Hertler Jr.’s 12 seasons. Nordonia is making its eighth postseason appearance and is 11-7 in playoff games. The Knights have qualified five of the last six years, finishing as the Division II state runner-up in 2002.

WHAT TO WATCH: Not too many giants will be roaming the field in this one but there will be lots of versatile athletes. “They are very similar to us,” Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “They have a lot of guys 200 to 240 pounds up front, and then just real good skill.” Each team can score points in a hurry.

Nordonia QB Aaron Pankratz and WR Brian Vollmer hooked up for a 70-yard TD on the first play of last week’s game. Hoover put together a three-play, 74-yard TD drive to get back into last week’s game. How Hoover comes back from last week’s emotional win will play a big factor in this one. The Vikings can’t afford any mental letdown. “We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Hertler said. “We’re still making way too many assignment mistakes ... and we’ve got to do a better job executing.”

Nordonia’s Pankratz (6-5, 220) has thrown for 2,067 yards and 25 TDs. The senior completed 14 of 21 passes for a school-record 354 yards and four TDs last week. Vollmer (5-11, 165) caught three of the TDs, part of his six catches for 227 yards. The senior added 62 yards on three punt returns. Vollmer has 47 catches for 1,063 yards and 13 TDs. Ryan Clark is another threat in the receiving game. Junior TB John Hamilton has rushed for 1,383 yards and 15 TDs on 219 carries. Their top lineman is Will Woicehovich III (6-1, 225).

Hoover senior QB Jared Wackerly has thrown for 2,129 yards and 27 TDs. Senior WR Matt Wakulchik has 65 catches for 1,016 yards and 14 scores. Senior TE Kevin Dahl has 17 catches for 255 yards and five scores. Sophomore TB Erick Howard has rushed for 1,240 yards and 16 TDs on 250 carries. His older brother, senior Phillip Howard, has gained 207 yards with a 7.4 yards-per-carry average the last three weeks after missing eight games with an injury.

Dahl and two-way lineman James Georgiades lead the Viking defense up front. Junior CB Jeff Meek is coming off a 13-tackle game for the Vikings, with three pass breakups in the OTs alone.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Macedonia Nordonia Knights Game Preview