Hoover @ Massillon Perry

Canton Repository

SITE: Perry Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Hoover 2-1, 0-0; Perry 3-0, 0-0

LAST WEEK: Hoover 48, Wilson (Ont.) 17; Perry 48, St. John de Brebeuf 13

LAST MEETING: Hoover won, 21-7, last year.

WHAT TO WATCH: After easy wins over Canadian teams last week, two Federal League contenders look to take their game up several notches Friday. Each team has a veteran playmaker to lead the way in the backfield — senior QB John Hyde for Perry and junior TB Erick Howard for Hoover. Howard is on pace for another 1,000-yard season after a four-touchdown game last week. Hyde is a threat to run or pass, and Perry is doing more of the latter this season by installing some spread formations into their usual wing-T offense. But Perry still does much of its damage on the ground, where junior RB Caleb Laps has emerged as a breakout star this season, scoring 11 TDs on a variety of long runs, returns and catches. With these type of gamebreakers on the field, momentum could change in a hurry.

A growing concern for Hoover is injuries. Several starters are out, including perhaps two offensive linemen.

Season heats up with Perry, Hoover meeting

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

A slight chill in the air earlier this week reminded football fans that the high school season is nearing its midway point.

Another reminder comes on the field Friday night at Perry Stadium. When Perry hosts Hoover at 7:30, each team's Federal League schedule begins and the real season starts to heat up.

"You can just tell the intensity in the air at practices with the coaches, the players ... it picks up another notch," Perry head coach John "Spider" Miller said.

"Absolutely it means a lot more once the league starts," Hoover head coach Don Hertler Jr. said. "We're playing for a championship now, and you're a lot more familiar with the teams, the players and the rivalries."

Since the Federal League's inception in 1964, no teams have won more titles than Hoover (20) and Perry (15). Hoover has won three titles the last six years. Perry has to go a little further back, but its back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000 were both shared with Hoover.

That type of tradition makes this annual matchup one of the area's hardest-hitting games. Hoover won last year — also at Perry but played in Week 9 — to lock up the league championship.

Both teams have undergone quite a few changes because of graduation.

"I think both of us are a little bit more inexperienced than we were a year ago, and that makes it important to get that first tough win in the league," Hertler said. "You can gain some confidence and then move on to the next one."

Confidence already is pretty high on each team after lopsided wins over Canadian teams last Friday. Both teams put up 48 points in their routs and got to play a lot of people.

Perry's win kept the Panthers a perfect 3-0. But when Miller watches game film, he doesn't see perfection.

"We did a lot of things well, but there's a lot of things we're correcting and we have corrected," Miller said. "We need to get better."

Perry has a veteran quarterback in senior John Hyde, who's in his third varsity season. His ability to throw led Miller to incorporate some spread formations into Perry's usual wing-T attack.

"They always create a lot of problems for you because of the wing-T plus now they're throwing the ball more," Hertler said.

Creating even more problems for defenses is junior running back Caleb Laps, who has six touchdown plays of at least 30 yards.

"He's gone to the next level," Miller said of Laps' improvement. "But it's also a total team effort. The holes are there for him."

Hoover's big-play threat is junior tailback Erick Howard, a 1,300-yard rusher last season.

"But it's not just the Erick Howard show," Miller said. "All of their skill kids are very, very good. Their line has done a nice job. And defensively, they create problems because they're running that 5-3 and constantly shifting and moving."

The Vikings are 2-1, losing two weeks ago to expected state-title contender Louisville.

"We're going to get a big test from them," Miller said.

Hertler feels the same way about the Panthers.

"Mentally, we're more locked in," Hertler said. "We know it's going to be a close, tough game and it's always physical with them."

Hoover remains an unknown for Hertler

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

David Harpster, Canton Repository

While the Hoover Vikings will carry a 2-1 record into their Federal League opener Friday night at Perry, coach Don Hertler Jr. knows that his team will have to be much better than it has been through three games.

The Vikings have only played one team from Ohio thus far, and the result was a 22-0 loss to Louisville in Week Two. Sandwiched around that have been victories over Dunbar (D.C) and Wilson (Ont.), games in which the Vikings scored 41 and 48 points, respectively.

So, there’s a basis for optimism based on the fact that the Vikings have been able to score points in their two wins. But the quality of opposition in those games could definitely be open to debate.

Right now, Hertler is still trying to figure out what kind of team he has on his hands.

“We’ve improved defensively over the first three weeks but we’re still trying to get more balanced on offense and better in the our kicking game,” Hertler said. “We’ve been pretty inconsistent in most phases thus far, except maybe we’re getting better on defense each week. Our offensive line play and our blocking isn’t very consistent and we need to get better up front this week.

“I would give us a ‘C’ thus far. We need our seniors to play like seniors and we need our younger guys to mature. We’re a pretty average team right now and we need to get better in a hurry.”

Hoover entered the season coming off a Federal League championship last year. While the graduation losses were rather extensive, the Vikings were able to avoid what may have qualified as one of the biggest losses when junior running back Erick Howard reversed field and decided to return to the area after reports had his family moving to the Pacific Northwest. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Howard is arguably one of the best running backs in the area and gives the Vikings’ some teeth.

Hertler and the Vikings were pleased to see Howard return, but the coach knows that they can’t run the talented back into the ground before season’s end. That’s one reason why Hertler wants to see his offense diversify somewhat.

“We want to get Erick the ball but we also have to be balanced offensively,” Hertler said. “We’re never good enough to just run the ball and we’re never good enough to just pass the ball. We have to mix it up and get better at those little things that allow us to be balanced.

“We lost a great senior group and it’s hard to replace some of those talents and personalities, but the kids are getting a little more comfortable and a little better fundamentally. The more we know what we’re doing then the faster we can play. It’s going to be a physical game this week.”

Hoover went into Perry in Week Nine last fall and came away with a 21-7 victory that allowed the Vikings to secure at least a portion of the league championship. Hertler knows the Panthers are sure to remember that game, and he’s been impressed thus far with what Perry has accomplished in racking up three straight wins to open the season. He also knows that his team must eliminate the little mistakes that have helped to hold the Vikings back thus far.

“Perry’s usually been a ball control team, and I still think they are, but this year they’ve shown the ability to break long plays,” Hertler said. “It’s going to be a challenge for us to make them play the next snap and not let them keep the ball all night with their running game

“We’re making way too many mental mistakes and that causes us to be not be as physical as we need to be. We know it’s going to be a physical, emotional game this week because it’s a big game for both teams. I guess we need to have a little more sense of urgency and consistent intensity.”

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

Massillon Perry Panthers Game Preview