Winner between McKinley and Hoover in driver’s seat for league title, playoff bid

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

A collision course set six weeks ago by the Hoover and McKinley high school football teams ends Friday night at Fawcett Stadium.

Hoover and McKinley — each winners of five straight — square off at 7:30 in a contest that will go a long way in determining who wins the Federal League and the playoff hopes of each team.

“Our kids know what’s at stake,” Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “We have a lot of respect for their program and what they’re doing. Obviously they have great tradition and a lot of great athletes. Our kids know what they’re up against.”

McKinley uses speed all over to generate a big-play offense and a hard-hitting defense in hopes of winning its third league title in four years.

“It’s not like we’re changing our attitude, focus or philosophy,” McKinley coach Ron Johnson said of his team’s approach. But that does not mean he is in anyway downplaying the game. “They’re an outstanding team,” Johnson said of the Vikings. “We know we have to go out and play a great game in order be able to compete with them. They’re the defending league champs.”

INTO THE POSTSEASON

All five of McKinley’s wins are in the league, giving the Bulldogs (5-2, 5-0) a half-game lead over the Vikings (6-1, 4-0) in the standings. In terms of the playoffs, McKinley is fourth and Hoover fifth in Division I, Region 2. Each teams knows if they win out, they’re in the postseason.

A win gives McKinley at least a share of the Federal League title. A Hoover win would leave the Vikings as the lone unbeaten team in league play.

Despite heavy graduation losses, the Vikings are back in the hunt led by a game-breaking tailback and a strong defense.

“It starts with a solid senior class,” Hertler said. “And we’ve played a lot of underclassmen. We’ll see if we’re ready to compete at this level.”

“Our focus hasn’t changed,” Johnson said. “It’s stayed consistent to our one and only goal, to be 1-0 this week.”

In the aftermath of tough losses in Week 2, setting up this type of showdown was by no means a certainty a month ago. Each team was still looking to get comfortable and find an identity.

NEW OFFENSE, NEW COACH

The Bulldogs opened the season 0-2, struggling to find their way in a new offense brought in by their new coach. A comeback win over Lake got them going. Another comeback win at Fitch helped the Bulldogs further turn the corner. They got around it by rolling over Jackson.

McKinley’s defense became dominant, led by linebacker Jewone Snow and end Steve Miller. Tailbacks Monterae Williams and Bryce Wilder fuel a potent offense, which also features quarterback Kyle Ohradzansky spreading the ball around to fleet receivers.

“They’re one of the more skilled teams in the league. Them and GlenOak are the two fastest team in the league,” Hertler said. “Offensively, they do the things they need to do by spreading out and getting you into space. ... McKinley is always very strong on defense, and it’s no different this year.”

As McKinley found itself during that three-week stretch, Hoover did the same. Coming off being shut out by Louisville, the Vikings beat Wilson (Ont.), Perry and Lake by a combined 96-24. Tailback Erick Howard leads the way.

“They’re never out of any game regardless of the score or situation (because of Howard),” Johnson said.

Two-way lineman Dom Boyle anchors them up front and Brett Tulodzieski has emerged at quarterback.

“All these kids know is to win and they expect to win,” Johnson said of the Vikings.

To stay on course for this showdown, though, each team received challenges the last two weeks. In Week 6, both rallied for wins against the other top teams in the league — Hoover over Boardman and McKinley over GlenOak. Last weekend, McKinley locked in and took out Perry, 38-10. Hoover had it much tougher, erasing a fourth-quarter deficit at Fitch to survive in double-overtime, 45-42.

“We hung in there and kept fighting,” Hertler said.

Things don’t get any easier for either team.

McKinley wraps up league play at Boardman next week. The Bulldogs finish up at Massillon.

For Hoover, there’s a home game with GlenOak and a trip to Jackson.

“The meat of our schedule is still ahead of us, and it starts Friday,” Hertler said. “We haven’t won anything yet. We’re just in a position to be playing a big game or two or three.”

NETWORK

Canton McKinley High School Football Stadium. 24,000 Seating capacity.

Hoover Vikings Football

Canton McKinley Bulldogs Game Preview