Hoover 45 - Wilson Ontario 6

Hoover rolls over Canadian foe 45-6

Cliff Hickman, Canton Repository

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NORTH CANTON  A fast start on offense. Toughness on defense throughout.

​More offense the rest of the way.

​The Hoover Vikings did it all Friday night and it added up to a 45-6 win over the visiting Wilson Gators from Ontario, Canada. Hoover controlled the game from start to finish on both sides of the ball and improved to 3-0 headed into next week’s Federal League showdown against McKinley.

​Hoover set the tone by starting the game with a 71⁄2-minute drive that resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dom Iero. The Vikings converted three fourth downs on the drive and it seemed to sap the strength of Wilson.

“That was big to get off to a good start,” Hoover head coach Don Hertler Jr. said.

“It was a long drive and it took a lot of clock, and we made some big plays execution-wise with the run and the pass.”

​Iero played well the entire night. He went on to throw three touchdown passes and run for another. The final 20-yard touchdown run came again on fourth down in the third quarter when it looked as though Iero would be sacked before he broke free and took it into the end zone.

​“He (Iero) can do things with his arms and his feet,” Hertler Jr. said. “I thought he managed the game pretty well tonight. I thought he made some pretty good

decisions. He missed on a couple, but that’s an experience thing. I thought he made good decisions.”

​Iero was 7-of-16 passing for 161 yards with no interceptions, and he was the Vikings’ leading rusher with 78 yards on nine carries.

​Hoover’s defense also turned in an impressive performance. The Vikings held Wilson to 167 yards of offense and forced two turnovers.

​Hoover got a fumble recovery from Sam Woods, and for the second week in a row, got an interception return for a touchdown from Xavier Hogan. Hogan credited his

teammates for his success.

​“I just have to have an eye for the ball,” Hogan said. “Then my teammates block for me and I score touchdowns. My teammates make it happen.”

​Hoover was planning to enjoy the win Friday, but return to work today for the Vikings’ showdown against McKinley next Saturday.

​“It’s going to be very hard to simulate their size, simulate their speed and to simulate their aggressiveness,” Hertler Jr. said. “They’ve had two weeks to prepare for us, so we’ve got our backs up against the wall…We know they’re well-coached and an excellent team. They are off to a great start. They are a heck of a team. They’ve won some close games against some really good teams.”

​Woods and Hogan know Hoover will be ready for what awaits them against McKinley.

​“We’re going to have an extra day this week to practice,” Woods said. “We’re going to step it up and start playing Federal League tough.”

​“We’re going to come out and play our best game,” Hogan added. “If we do what we are capable of and try our best, that’s all that matters.” (1)

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NOTES: The entire Wilson team (coaches, players and support cast) are a class act. The dedication and sacrifice they made coming to North Canton to better prepare themselves for their season is to be commended. They are truly Champions!

​Wilson is a very young football team, which bodes well for their future. With the determination Wilson exhibited, they’ll be a force to reckon with in the LOSSA (Lake Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic).

​Best of luck Coach Papadakos and the rest of the coaching staff and players this season. The Hoover faithful will be pulling for you.

​For Hoover, this team has something you cannot coach, CHEMISTRY. That, and the desire to become better each week will provide for some exciting football this season. 

​The Hoover band under the direction of Mr. Ron Varn performed very well. They are to be commended for the playing of the Canadian National Anthem prior to our own National Anthem. Well done Hoover Marching Band.

​Hoover will begin Federal League play this week when they face Canton McKinley at Fawcett Stadium on Saturday, September 15. Tighten the chin straps! (2)