Stow Bulldogs @ Hoover

Friday, August 26, 2011

SITE: North Canton Memorial Stadium (7:30 PM)

2011 RECORDS: Stow 0-0, Hoover 0-0

2010 RECORDS: Stow 4-6, Hoover 3-7

8/27 H Wadsworth (3-7) [1:2] W 21-6

9/3 H Roosevelt (8-3) [2:5] L 14-41

9/10 A Massillon Washington (7-4) [1:2] L 10-27

9/17 H Medina (9-3) [1:2] L 17-21

9/24 A Garfield Heights (5-5) [1:1] L 8-31

10/1 A Hudson (4-6) [1:2] L 7-19

10/8 H Lakewood (3-7) [1:1] W 41-0

10/15 A Elyria (4-6) [1:2] W 26-19

10/22 H Twinsburg (10-2) [1:2] L 14-30

10/29 A Cuyahoga Falls (1-9) [1:2] W 33-13 (1)

STOW SCOUTING REPORT:

Head Coach: Mark Nori (record 4-6)

Mark Nori, whose coaching resume includes stops with the San Francisco 49ers and college programs at Pitt and Akron, is entering his second season as the head coach at Stow High.

Nori, 37, replaced Marty Tinkler, who resigned after the 2009 season.

A native of Philadelphia and a graduate of Boston College, Nori brings a wealth of experience. He played guard for four years at BC and was named All-Big East during his senior year. He spent four seasons in the NFL with Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and the New York Giants.

Nori spent the 2009 season as a volunteer coach at Walsh Jesuit after spending one year with the 49ers and four years at Akron under J.D. Brookhart. He also coached at Maine and in Las Vegas in the only XFL season. (2)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 5 on defense

Playoff appearances: (2) 1995, 1988

Players to watch: Jim Griggs (Sr., WR/DB, 5-10, 185, 53 tackles, 6½ tackles for loss, 3 pass deflections); Nick Mutaali (Sr., RB/ILB, 5-10, 195, 5½ tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles); Dan Dunn (Sr., LT, 5-3, 300); Nick Oblisk (Sr., LG, 6-2, 240); Brandon Raftovich (Sr., RG, 6-3, 200); Mike Waggoner (Sr., WR/OLB, 6-2, 185); Devon Jackson (Jr., DB, 5-9, 165); Luke Kiehl (Sr., RB/DB, 5-7, 175).

Strengths: Not many coaches have the luxury of experienced offensive linemen like Nori has. Weighing a combined 800 pounds and averaging 6-foot-2½ inches, the Bulldogs will no doubt run – and pass – behind Dunn, Oblisk and Raftovich. Last year, the squad rushed for 1,641 yards and passed for another 1,594 behind them. With 60 percent of his line back, expect Nori to utilize every pound he has up front. Look for the receiving core of Waggoner and Griggs to help out as well.

Weaknesses: Duane Mitchell and Mike Greenwell will be tough to replace offensively.

Mitchell, a second-team All-Northeast Inland District selection accounted for 70 percent of the team’s rushing offense – that’s 1,141 yards on the ground – and added eight touchdowns. Quarterback Greenwell rushed for 368 yards and went 67-for-144 for 1,066 yards with nine touchdowns, adding four scores on the ground.

An underclassman is expected to start at quarterback. That will put the bull’s-eye on the backfield early.

Coach’s comment: “Obviously our goals are high. We want to make states like everyone else does. The expectation is to continue to get better and grow as a program. Year 1, was a good foundation year. You’re not all there in Year 2, you’re just not. There are still some things to mop up. That’s the next step for us.” (3)

HOOVER OUTLOOK:

Shoes to fill

DB Shamus Johnson was Hoover’s top tackler and hitter. ... WR Joey Housos caught 53 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. ... DE Robert Williams brought pressure off the edge. ... RB Ryan Choong was a versatile threat as a runner and receiver.

Difference makers

QB Austin Appleby is going to Purdue for a reason. ... Aaron Viscounte and Ryan Sarbaugh bring back starting experience on both lines. Sarbaugh also serves as one of the better kickers in the area. ... Stephen Denissoff is a big-play threat. He averaged 35 yards a catch on his 14 receptions last year. ... Jon Nutt is much more than a blocker at tight end. He caught five TD passes in 2010. ... Eric LePage is a third-year starter in the secondary.

Top newcomers

Brandon Strausser, who is in the mix to start at receiver and outside linebacker, was voted a captain by his teammates, joining Appleby, Viscounte, Sarbaugh and Jacob Zoldan with the honor. ... Zoldan moves from offensive line last year to fullback this year. ... Justin Smith, Xavier Hogan and Sam Woods might be sharing carries since all three will be counted on to play a lot of defense.

Final analysis

Hoover head coach Don Hertler Jr. has a hard time saying who will be starting at several positions. And that competition isn’t a bad thing. “It’s helping us develop depth,” Hertler said. “A guy might be second team now. He might not be second team come Week 3 or 4. That happens a lot here.” ... Todd Beavers, who started at defensive end last year, has been hampered by turf toe in the preseason. A knee injury has OL-DL Ben Topper out for an extended period of time. ... Assistant coach Shawn Billker is back on Hoover’s staff after serving as Dalton’s head coach for one year. (4)

Sources:

(1) JoeEitel.com

(2) Cleveland.com

(3) Brad Bournival, SportsLink.com, August 2011

(4) Canton Repository, August 22, 2011

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