Canton McKinley 28 - Hoover 21 OT
October 4, 2024
Canton Repository
CANTON — Winning league titles are never supposed to be easy.
The McKinley Bulldogs were reminded of that Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
On a night when the Federal League race could have been turned upside down, the Bulldogs kept things right side up in their favor. They used a Nino Hill touchdown run and a defensive stop in overtime to beat Hoover 28-21 and remain unbeaten in the league.
This game had everything. Two defensive touchdowns, a special teams score and probably too many McKinley penalties to head coach Antonio Hall’s liking.
The bottom line for the Bulldogs is they persevered to keep sole possession of first place.
“We want to win the Federal League,” McKinley senior defensive back Bryan Ingram said. “We want to go undefeated.”
The Bulldogs (5-2, 4-0) can do that by beating Lake and Jackson before their Week 10 showdown with Massillon.
McKinley’s run at league perfection was in jeopardy with the game tied in the fourth quarter. Hoover’s Carter Lukens recovered a muffed punt at the Bulldogs 39. Moments later, the Vikings were deep in the red zone.
That’s when Ingram and McKinley linebacker Dante McClellan stepped up. Ingram caught a tipped pass by McClellan and raced 97 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 21-14 lead.
“I originally saw the ball coming and said ‘I have to get this one,'” Ingram said. “I caught the ball and stumbled a little bit. I picked it up and tried to break loose. I saw Dante with the lead block. I followed behind him. As soon as I got green grass, I broke it.”
Ingram’s return could have easily been a dagger. Hoover prevented it from becoming one.
Behind the running of AJ Dolph, the Vikings calmly drove downfield. John Collins’ 2-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper and Paul Koskovich’s kick tied it at 21-21 with 26 seconds left in regulation.
“Our kids are unbelievable,” Hoover head coach Brian Baum said. “They’re motivated. They played their tails off and wanted that.”
Baum originally thought about going for two, but elected to take his chances in overtime.
“We have a really good kicking game and our defense is playing really well at that point,” Baum said. “You ride your D out there. You put it on your defense.”
All three phases helped put the Vikings (4-3, 2-2) in position to win. Their special teams and defense responded after McKinley’s Jamar Johnson ran for two touchdowns in the first half.
Hoover tied it at 7-7 on Jack Andes’ 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. With the Bulldogs leading 14-7 and pinned deep in their territory, Vikings defensive end Bryce Roach snatched a fumble in the air and scored on a 4-yard run.
Hill’s touchdown run and a final stop by McKinley’s defense in overtime was the difference.
“It’s a heartbreaking loss,” Baum said. “We have to rebound, get better tomorrow and go after Perry next week.”
McKINLEY 28, HOOVER 21, OT
- Hoover – 7 – 7 – 0 – 7 – 0 — 21
- McKinley – 14 – 0 – 0 – 7 – 7 — 28
- M—Johnson 13 run (Mankowski kick)
- H—Andes 96 kickoff return (Koskovich kick)
- M—Johnson 1 run (Mankowski kick)
- H—Roach 4 fumble return (Koskovich kick)
- M—Ingram 97 interception return (Mankowski kick)
- H—Collins 2 run (Koskovich kick)
- M—Hill 8 run (Mankowski kick)
- TEAM STATS
- H — M
- First downs — 14 — 17
- Rushes-Yards — 47-212 — 28-129
- Comp-Att-Int — 4-9-1 — 17-27-0
- Passing Yards — 20 — 169
- Fumbles-Lost — 1-1 — 2-2
- Penalties-Yards — 5-30 — 12-98
- Total yards — 232 — 298
- Records — 4-3, 2-2 — 5-2, 4-0
Source: Canton Repository