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Hoover 49 - Green 7

October 30, 2020

Game Summary

NORTH CANTON Connor Ashby wrapped up his remarkable high school football career in style. The Vikings senior quarterback added to his collection of school records during a near perfect passing performance in a home win to end the 2020 season. 

It was part of an overall impressive showing by Hoover (6-3), which a week ago had its playoff run end with a loss at Massillon. 

Ashby’s 36-yard run on an option keeper down the left sideline early in the third quarter gave him the Hoover record for career touchdowns accounted for. He already held a number of Hoover single-game, season and career records — including career passing yards and career TD passes. 

The next time Ashby touched the ball, after Hoover blocked a punt, he added another career record — most completions — when threw a 28-yard TD pass to Brock Henne. It was Ashby’s 400th career completion. Henne completed the play by making the catch on the left side of the field, shedding two defenders and trotting into the end zone. 

Ashby accounted for six TDs in all Friday night, three running and three passing. Henne caught two of his TD passes, having also scored on a 22-yarder in the first quarter. That TD opened the scoring on a night that was all Hoover. 

The Vikings came up with three turnovers and two blocked punts in addition to their offensive dominance. Drew Roach returned an interception 70 yards for a score to highlight the defensive effort. 

Ashby’s other two scoring runs, from 20 and 3 yards out, both came in the first half and pushed the Viking lead to 21-0. His other TD pass, a 3-yarder to Drew Robinson, made the lead 28-0 at the half. Two fumble recoveries by the Vikings and their first blocked punt helped build that lead. 

By the end of the third quarter the game was being played with a running clock. 

Ashby finished the game 12-of-13 passing for 133 yards. He added eight carries for 62 yards rushing.

Ashby finished his career with 5,942 passing yards, to rank seventh all-time in Stark County history, according to Canton Repository records, after passing Ben McDaniels (5,830 yards) on Friday. His 67 career TD passes tie him with Hunter Wells for fourth place in county history. He also finished with 81 career TDs accounted for, breaking the mark of 79 set by Erick Howard.

Robinson reached a milestone, too, surpassing 1,000 yards rushing on the season. He gained a game-high 102 yards on 15 carries, giving him 1,017 for the season. 

Henne finished with four catches for 86 yards. Yanni Volas converted all seven extra-point kicks. 

Green (4-4) avoided the shutout when Owen Herrick scored on a blocked punt late in the game. The Bulldogs, who have lost four straight, played minus their top two offensive players — record-setting receiver Trey Martin and QB Trevor Van Horn.  

Alex Neff ran for 86 yards on 10 carries for Green, while Carter Daly threw for 69 yards. Landon Clevinger caught four passes for 41 yards.


Source: fridaynightohio.com