October 7, 2022

Bouncing back: Lake football team puts first loss behind it, beats North Canton Hoover

Mike Popovich, Canton Repository

NORTH CANTON — This is what really good football teams do.

They bounce back from setbacks. They persevere in the wake of one injury after another. They do everything they can to become champions.

As many know, the Lake Blue Streaks are a really good football team. A loss did not change that.

On the heels of their first defeat of the season, the Blue Streaks regrouped and beat Hoover 35-15 on Friday night. Quarterback Will Butler ran for three touchdowns. Cale Jarvis, who shares the quarterback duties with Butler, returned from injury and threw a touchdown pass.

Lake’s season was never in danger of skidding off that track after last week’s loss to McKinley. Head coach Dan DeGeorge just didn’t want that loss to fester into another … and another.

After Butler and Matthew Sollberger sealed the win with fourth-quarter touchdown runs, the bad memories from a week ago were gone for good.

“We kind of been moving smoothly through the season and we needed some adversity to face,” Butler said. “This was a good way to bounce back.

“I’d rather be deep in the playoffs with one loss than lose in the first round and that be our first loss.”

Lake (7-1, 3-1) is heading to the playoffs. The Blue Streaks also remain tied with McKinley for first place in the Federal League in the loss column. The Bulldogs can clinch at least a share of the title with a win over GlenOak next week. Lake a can earn at least a piece of it with wins over Perry and Green.

The Blue Streaks never trailed after Butler’s first TD run and Celton Dutton’s extra point gave them a 7-6 lead.

“McKinley took it to us, punched us in the face and I challenged our kids all week,” DeGeorge said. “How are we going to respond? This is when you’re going to make a difference, and we’re going to find out what type of team we are.

“I’m just very proud of the kids. … We didn’t play a perfect game by any means, but I loved the effort and intensity. It’s something we can build on.”

A 27-yard pass from Jarvis to Nathan Baker gave the Blue Streaks a first down at the Hoover 31. Butler checked in and ran 20 yards to the 11 on his first snap. Two plays later, he scored on a 5-yard run.

“Will’s a beast,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis threw a 22-yard TD pass to Dylan Snyder earlier in the game. In addition to giving Lake a passing threat, his return also meant a little more rest for Butler. The senior also starts at safety.

“I just love to be playing again with my boys,” Jarvis said. “There’s nothing better in the world. To get a win with them is awesome.”

Sollberger’s 11-yard TD run with 5:09 left wrapped up a big night for him. He finished with 123 yards on 19 carries.

Lake ran for 216 yards as a team.

“Matthew ran real hard tonight,” DeGeorge said. “And you have to give a big shout out to my offensive line. They did an excellent job. Those five guys up front have progressively gotten better each week.”

Carson Dyrlund threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Zach Braucher to get Hoover (5-3, 2-2) to within 14-12 at halftime. Luke Roach ran for a touchdown, and Jeremy Kish kicked a 30-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for the Vikings.

Lake – 0 – 14 – 7 – 14 — 35 

Hoover – 6 – 6 –  – 3 — 15 

H—L.Roach 10 run (Kick failed) 

L— Butler 4 run (Dutton kick) 

L—Snyder 21 pass from Jarvis (Dutton kick) 

H—Braucher 41 pass from Dyrlund (Run fails) 

L—Butler 3 run (Dutton kick) 

H—FG Kish 30 

L—Butler 5 run (Dutton kick) 

L—Sollberger 11 run (Dutton kick) 

TEAM STATS 

                     LAK     —      HOO 

First downs — 18     —      12 

Rushes-Yards — 43-216     —      31-69 

Comp-Att-Int — 8-12-0     —      11-18-0 

Passing Yards — 93     —      137 

Fumbles-Lost — 3-1     —      2-2 

Penalties-Yards — 6-40     —      6-55 

Total yards — 309     —      206 

Records — 6-1, 3-1     —      5-3, 2-2