Title for Vikings

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Chris Beaven, Canton repository

PERRY TWP. Dirt streaked his face. Mud and grass stained

his white jersey. A small scrape left blood on his knuckles.

James Georgiades looked the part of Stark County high school

football on a cool fall Friday night. With his smile, the North

Canton Hoover senior also looked like a champion.

Led by Georgiades and the rest of his friends up front, the

Vikings hammered out at least a share of the Federal League

title with a 21-7 win at Perry.

"This is the most fun I've ever had in my entire life in a football

game, " Georgiades said.

Hoover (7-2, 5-1) looks to win the title outright next

week when it plays Jackson.

The Vikings also are in line to secure a first-round home game in the playoffs.

All of that was probably rattling around in Georgiades' mind as he hugged teammate after teammate, coach after coach.

"Oh my gosh, I'm speechless," the two-way starting lineman said. "This is the greatest feeling in the world. We did great things,

the whole team."

No one did anything too spectacular for the Vikings; they just did their jobs.

"Our defense did a great job," Hoover head coach Don Hertler Jr. said. " ... We played physical. And we did a really good job up front on both sides of the ball."

Hoover outgained 279-193, committed no turnovers and recovered a key fumble.

Sophomore tailback Erick Howard pounded out 174 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Senior quarterback Jared Wackerly completed 7 of 13 passes for 106 yards. All 13 pass attempts came in the first half, as the Vikings kept it simple in the second half.

"Everyone did their job," Hertler said. "It was a great team effort."

Perry, minus starting quarterback John Hyde (appendectomy), found its most success with fullback Marc Fry. He rushed for 105 yards on 14 carries. But the Panthers couldn't get the big play they needed in the second half.

"Sure we're missing some kids, but I'm not making excuses," Perry coach John Miller said. " ... We had great opportunities. You've got to make the most of those opportunities, and we didn't do that."

The Panthers scored first with an 80-yard touchdown drive. Fry broke through the line on a trap and ran 45 yards for the score with 10:12 left in the half.

The Vikings didn't panic.

"We just regrouped and kept playing football," Georgiades said.

Four plays later, the Vikings answered. All-league receiver Matt Wakulchik ran under a pass from Wackerly down the left sideline for a 52-yard TD.

"He's a great receiver, no question about it. He ran a great route," Miller said.

"It got us going, got us clicking," Hertler said of Wakulchik's score. "Then we had the turnover, and we got a little momentum going in the second quarter."

Perry fumbled on the second play of its ensuing possession. Hoover senior Kevin Dahl recovered at the Perry 21. Three plays later, Howard scored a 5-yard run.

Hoover's defense kept the momentum building, forcing a three-and-out. The Vikings took over at their 47 and scored in eight plays. Wackerly completed two passes for 17 yards, and Howard delivered a 23-yard TD run. He broke through the middle, stiff-arming a defender inside the 5 to score with 34 seconds left in the half.

That was it for the scoring.

Perry threatened twice in the second half, going 14 plays to open the third quarter and 10 plays at the start of the fourth. But each drive ended with the Panthers turning the ball over on downs, at Perry's 5 and 42.

"We wanted to get it down to a touchdown and get some confidence," Miller said.

Instead, Hoover's confidence is soaring. The Vikings look for more next week.

"We've been through a lot the last three years," Hertler said, "and we've got a chance now to do some good things."

Box Score

Hoover 21, Perry 7

at Perry Stadium

Hoover 0 21 0 0 - 21

Perry 0 7 0 0 - 7

P-Fry 45 run (Magnacca kick)

H-Wakulchik 52 pass from Wackerly (Wakulchik kick)

H-E.Howard 5 run (Wakulchik kick)

H-E.Howard 23 run (Wakulchik kick)