Will someone give Hoover's Howard a hand against Massillon?

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

It’s no mystery what the Hoover High School football team wants to do when it

opens the playoffs Saturday.

The Vikings will look to run Erick Howard — Stark County’s career rushing leader

— as much as possible once their 7 p.m. Division I regional quarterfinal game

kicks off at Massillon.

“I don’t think that’s a secret,” Hoover head coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “We’ve got

to be able to run the ball.”

After a pause, Hertler then adds, “but we also have to be balanced and throw the

ball well.”

And that’s where some of the guessing game will begin when the Vikings and

Tigers meet in a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff game won by Hoover.

Which Vikings will step forward to make big plays in addition to Howard, Ohio’s

reigning Mr. Football? Read More...

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Hoover senior RB Erick Howard against Jackson last week. Photo by gouldphotos.com