Hoover (11-1) vs Canton GlenOak (10-2)
Regional Final
Canton Repository
SITE: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Massillon, OH, 7:00 p.m.
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Hoover is making its second straight postseason
appearance and 16th overall. The Vikings are 13-15 in the playoffs. The Vikings
lost to Brunswick, 24-17, in last year’s regional final.
GlenOak is making its second straight postseason appearance and fifth overall.
The Golden Eagles are 3-4 in the playoffs and appearing in their first regional final.
LAST MEETING: Hoover won, 14-10, in Week 9.
WHAT TO WATCH: Hoover TB Erick Howard, the county’s leading rusher,
allowed the Vikings to play keep away from the Golden Eagles in the first game.
GlenOak ran just nine offensive plays in the second half. Howard pounded away for
182 yards on 32 carries and scored the game-winning TD on a 9-yard run in the
fourth quarter.
Hoover QB Brett Tulodzieski also contributed a 56-yard TD pass to A.J. Sarbaugh.
GlenOak managed just 161 yards of total offense.
Each team’s defense has been dominant of late.
Hoover has allowed 34 points during the last four games, a stretch that began with
the win over GlenOak. The Vikings limited Massillon to just 142 total yards in the
first round. They came up with four turnovers against Twinsburg, as Jeff Meek,
Dan Nettleton and Jake Mann each made interceptions.
GlenOak’s defense is giving up an average of just 5.3 points and 131 yards per
game the last three weeks. Hard-hitting ILB Andrew Garman leads the way along
with DLs Aaron Williams and Joe Monnot.
Offensively, Hoover features Howard, who has rushed for 2,163 yards and
29 touchdowns on 356 carries. He also has 19 catches for 392 yards and three
scores. He’s rushed for 368 yards in the playoffs on 71 carries, scoring all four
Hoover postseason TDs.
Tulodzieski hasn’t had to throw a lot in the playoffs, but he’s been efficient
— 14-of-21 for 176 yards with no interceptions.
Greg Beck has caught six balls for 72 yards.
GlenOak’s offense centers around multi-talented QB Brandon Martin
(832 yards passing, 482 rushing) and the tailback parade of Drew Ayers,
Eric Osborne, Collin Daniels-Mitchell, DeWuan Spencer and Adam Garman.
Those five backs have combined to eclipse 2,000 yards. WR Zach Hatchett has
scored 8 TDs among his 25 catches for 396 yards, also returning two punts and
an interception for a score.
More...
Wednesday, November 12, Canton Repository
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"FLUKE"
''That's exactly what we wanted because they said it
was a fluke last time we beat them. This game is
about to show whether it was a fluke or not.'' - Erick Howard
2008 Regular Season
8/21 H Twinsburg (9-3) [1:2] W 14-7
8/29 A Brecksville-Broadview Hts (7-3) [1:1] W 27-14
9/5 A Green (4-6) [1:2] W 27-24 2 ot
9/12 A Jackson (5-5) [1:2] W 31-14
9/19 H Austintown-Fitch (5-5) [1:1] W 27-0
9/26 H Canton McKinley (6-5) [1:2] L 19-24
10/3 A Lake (5-5) [2:7] W 28-14
10/10 H Boardman (5-5) [1:1] W 21-14
10/24 H Perry (4-6) [1:2] W 9-6
OHSAA Playoffs
11/01 H Canton McKinley (6-5) [1:2] W 14-7
11/08 N Brunswick (10-2) [1:2] W 28-3
Key Offensive Play Players
Rushing (att - yards - td)#1 Drew Ayers 101 - 712 - 2#4 Eric Osborne 112 - 557 - 2#23 Collin Daniels-Mitchell 67 - 310 - 4#3 DeWaun Spencer 48 - 294 - 2#9 Brandon Martin (QB) 105 - 482 - 5Receiving (catch - yards - td) #7 Zack Hatchett 25 - 396 - 8Passing (comp % - yards - td)#9 Brandon Martin 53% - 832 - 8By the numbers (last 4 game averages)
When GlenOak has the ball Points: 15Rushing: 45 - 179 yards (3.97 per carry)Passing: 6 for 8 - 66 yardsHoover DefensePoints allowed: 8.5Against the rush: 32 - 125 yards (3.89 per carry)Against the pass: 7 for 16 - 66 yardsWhen Hoover has the ballPoints: 17Rushing: 44 - 214 yards (4.86 per carry)Passing: 5 for 9 - 72 yardsGlenOak DefensePoints allowed: 8Against the rush: 36 - 113 yards (3.14 per carry)Against the pass: 5 for 10 - 48 yardsSources: fridaynightohio.com, Canton Repository,
Website Administrator, Akron Beacon Journal
NETWORK
HELPING OUT Senior Ike Odimgbe (left) looks to get a block for GlenOak High School running back DeWaun Spencer during Saturday's Division I playoff win over Brunswick.
Odimgbe, started at fullback Saturday for GlenOak. He caught a touchdown pass and almost had another in a 28-3 win over Brunswick, but the corner of his shoes caught a clip of grass at the 3-yard line. He also opened holes for his tailbacks, leaving Blue Devil defensive linemen and linebackers bruised and battered.
It was Odimgbe's block that paved the way for Drew Ayers' 75-yard touchdown run. Linebackers Spyro Spondyl and Andrew Garman no longer have to do double duty at fullback. They're fresher on defense, and GlenOak is a better team.
"On the first snap of the game, I was excited," said Odimgbe, whose father is from Nigeria. "But after that I calmed down. I was there to get my business done, win and walk out of there."
The bruising 230-pound senior practiced all season long not knowing if he would play.
Odimgbe started as a sophomore and junior at St. Thomas Aquinas, though his family has lived in the Plain Local School District since moving here from the Seattle area. When the Knights got a new coach, Odimgbe transferred.
"They wanted to change my position, and I wasn't liking that," Odimgbe said. "Coming to GlenOak was the best decision I ever made."
Academic issues caused him to sit out until GlenOak's first grading period ended after Week 11.
Regional Semifinal
Brunswick 0 3 0 0 3
GlenOak 7 14 7 0 28
GO—Odimgbe 13 pass from Martin (EP kick)
B—Kravetz FG
GO—Ayers 75 run (EP kick)
GO—Hatchett 26 pass from Martin (EP kick)
GO—Osborne 3 run (EP kick)
MASSILLON Led by another strong defensive effort, GlenOak is headed to its first ever regional final after a 28-3 win over Brunswick in a Division I regional semifinal.
The Golden Eagles allowed just 145 total yards at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, as they beat the team which ended their season a year ago in the first round of the playoffs.
GlenOak’s offense helped put the game away with an impressive touchdown drive late in the half. The Eagles went 74 yards in five plays to score with 50 seconds left for a 21-7 halftime lead.
Another offensive highlight was a 75-yard touchdown run by Drew Ayers.
This is the first time GlenOak (10-2) has won two playoff games in the same season. The win also set up a Federal League rematch, as GlenOak and Hoover meet in the regional finals next Saturday at Paul Brown Tiger stadium in Massillon.
Hoover beat GlenOak, 14-10, in Week 9 at
North Canton Memorial Stadium.
First Downs: Br 11, GO 15
Rushes-Yards: Br 31-109, GO 39-253
Comp-Att-Int: Br 8-24-1, GO 9-16-0
Passing Yards: Br 79, GO 86
Fumbles-Lost: Br 3-1, GO 2-2
Hoover Vikings Football
Hoover Vikings Football
Canton GlenOak Golden Eagles Scouting Report
