POLAR POWER! Jackson claims share of league title in 23-20 victory over North Canton Hoover
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
JACKSON PASSION. The Jackson Polar Bears football team and high school students celebrate their 23-20 win over North Canton Hoover Friday night at Robert Fife Stadium. It is Jackson's first league football title since 2017 when they won the title along with McKinley and Perry. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)
JACKSON TWP.--Share the cake Canton McKinley. The Jackson Polar Bears are coming to dine at the table too.
For four years, Jackson was mired in a four-year losing streak to rival North Canton Hoover. In the first half in front of a sold-out crowd of 8,000 at Robert Fife Stadium, it seemed like the Polar Bears league title drought was going to extend at least another season as the Vikings raced out to an early 20-6 second quarter advantage.
However the script immediately turned in the second half as Jackson running back Kristian Satterfield scored two touchdown runs spanning one and 26 yards respectively with the latter tying the score and Polar Bears kicker Cooper Mizeur connected on a 27-yard field goal to issue Jackson their first and only lead of the contest and the end result was a 23-20 victory that not only terminated a four-game slide to their archrival but more importantly garnered them a share of the Federal League crown with an identical 5-1 league record, the same record as that of McKinley, who plays Massillon at press time Saturday afternoon.
For third-year Jackson head coach Jay Rohr, a 2002 graduate who won a league title under Phil Mauro 23 years ago, this is his third league title but first as head coach of his alma mater. And he couldn't be any prouder of his legion of Polar Bears who commenced this journey as early when offseason conditioning began in early December.
When asked about his team shining in the spotlight once again, Rohr respectfully attested that being in the spotlight had nothing to do with the success of what his team attained other than it was a valuable effort from every purple clad competitor.
"I don't know if it's the spotlight. Our kids understand it's a football game and we have people in our community that go through rough times and our kids have supported them and they just understand that football is more of a life lesson and there will be ups and downs, trials and tribulations," Rohr said. "But they believed in each other and that's what happened tonight."
Early adversity struck Jackson when running back A.J. Dolph scored on a 47-yard touchdown run on Hoover's opening possession to get them on the scoreboard early at 7-0. Both teams traded touchdowns on two straight possessions but missed extra points kept Hoover ahead at 13-6.
Early in the second quarter, Hoover defensive back Chase Lukens intercepted a pass from Polar Bears quarterback Lucas Ecrement and retuned it to the four-yard line. Quarterback John Collins scored from a yard away to put Hoover back up at two touchdowns.
10th year Vikings field commander Brian Baum Sr. was feeling very good where his team was at the time.
"We created an early turnover and we held onto the football and we did the things we had to do in the first half. I loved our effort and our kids played really hard," he said.
FORWARD VIKING. North Canton Hoover fullback Cole Rembielak scores on a one yard touchdown run during the second quarter of Friday's contest at Robert Fife Stadium. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)
Jackson started to get their running game going in the second half and it became a copy of last week's 20-7 win over McKinley that ended a 17-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. After Ecrement completed a fourth down pass to Noah Colando, Satterfield scampered for the equalizing touchdown spanning 26 yards and immediately the tide was turning in Jackson's favor.
And it translated into a massive celebration that had students storming the field to bask in the accomplishment.
It was one thing for Rohr to clinch a Federal League title at North Canton Hoover Memorial Stadium as a player. But to win the league title at home where he is still revered is another.
"Coming out after halftime, they believed in each other, we knew we were going to ground and pound. We knew we were going to get some stops on defense in the second half," he said.
Jackson ends the regular season on the strength of a five-game winning streak and will host a first round playoff game in Division I, region 1 next Friday. At press time, Parma Normandy was 13th in the region but that will likely change over the weekend.
Rohr and his squad will enjoy what was a well deserved moment for them before turning their sights to the playoffs.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm excited about tonight. A win is a win and winning comes with the Federal League. We're going to enjoy tonight and we'll worry about the playoffs when it comes," he said.
North Canton Hoover finishes the regular season at 6-4 having clinched a playoff spot and will be on the road for their Division II playoff assignment against a team to be determined. Baum was proud of the effort his team put together but acknowledged that in order for them to have a future past week 11, they will have to abolish the turnovers and penalties that cut short their bid to leave with a victory.
"The second half I loved our effort, our kids played really hard but Jackson did a really good job tonight. They moved the ball well. We need to fix our mistakes going forward," Baum Sr. said.
Canton McKinley isn't the only team with cake at the table. And Jackson made sure to get their much deserved share of the cake in the form of a share of the Federal League title.
RESPECT BETWEEN RIVALS. A Jackson player consoles a dejected North Canton Hoover player after Friday night's contest at Robert Fife Stadium. Jackson captured a share of the Federal League title with a 23-20 victory. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)
Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment