Blue Streaks avenge regular season loss in resounding fashion

 Blue Streaks avenge regular season loss in resounding fashion

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

LAKE TWP.--Holy Christopher!

It was one thing to see Matt Christopher dominate the football gridiron and lead Lake to the 1991 Division II state championship game amid a 13-0 record.

It is another to see a Christopher on the football field dominating once again.

Lake fans cannot get enough of hearing the Christopher name and once again the aesthetic magic and meaning of the name again was on fervent display at Lake Blue Streak stadium. Only this time, the bravado was provided by senior running back and linebacker Charlie Christopher.

Following in his father's footsteps, the senior standout rushed for 84 yards with three jarring touchdowns and recorded an interception as the host Blue Streaks had everything traverse from offense all the way to their defense up to their special teams in a 28-0 zapping of visiting North Canton Hoover in a Division II, Region 5 first round playoff assignment.

It was a big swing from two weeks ago despite not yielding an offensive touchdown, Lake was on the losing end of an 18-17 decision at North Canton Memorial Stadium. Only this time, Lake finished the job as evidenced by not yielding an offensive touchdown in the two meetings with the Vikings.

12th year Lake boss Dan DeGeorge ecstatically praised his team in a celebratory postgame huddle.

DRINKING FOR SUCCESS. Lake High School running back/linebacker Charlie Christopher, a future Ohio University recruit drinks from a bottle after his third touchdown during the third quarer of Friday's Division II, Region 5 contest against North Canton Hoover. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

"They just kept fighting and never gave up and they just found a way to beat two very good football teams the past two weeks. I am just happy for them and they deserve it. We're just glad we're not turning in the equipment tomorrow and we are excited for the opportunity to keep playing," DeGeorge said.

Lake made life severely miserable for the Vikings. It did not help the cause when junior quarterback John Collins was harried into four interceptions by a ruthless Blue Streaks defense that was every bit as carnivorous as they willed themselves to be. Hoover had two chances at potential scores in Lake territory but were sabotaged by interceptions that were injurious to their chances.

North Canton field general Brian Baum Sr. addressed his tearful charges as they concluded their season at 6-5 and at the same time rued the turnovers that spelled the end of the 2024 voyage for the Vikings.

"It's the finality of the playoffs. That (Lake) is a good team and we know that we can't turn the ball over against a good team. We tried to do some things but we turned the ball over and gave them good field position and they are too good of a team to do that against. They racked up some points on us quickly," he said.

The tone of the contest was set as early as Hoover's second possession. Throwing a deep pass for the end zone, Collins was intecepted by Lake's Ethan Hunt who returned the theft 34 yards all the way to their 36 yard line, a return negated by a late 15-yard personal foul that shelved them back to the four-yard line. Hoover's third possession lasted only just eight seconds of the second quarter when a throwback pass was deftly sniffed out and led to a second interception.

The Blue Streaks trekked on an 11 play drive that consumed 6:14 off the clock with junior tailback Davis Matson scoring on a 38-yard touchdown as he ventured his way into the Hoover secondary and handed the hosts a 7-0 lead that eventually parlayed into a fruitful evening of football for the 7-4 Blue Streaks.

Hoover had three straight possessions all end with interceptions in the decisive second quarter with Kyle Hammer etching his name into the book with one that he returned to the 21-yard line and three plays after the pick, Christopher scored the first of his three touchdown runs and a 14-0 lead with over three minutes remaining before the band show.

Lake's first possession of the third quarter was the knockout punch. Running the ball on eight of their nine plays, Christopher bulled his way over multiple Hoover defenders ala his father Matt and found the end zone for his second of three touchdowns that made the result academic at that point, leaving the Vikings languished after a seven-minute drive coming out of the intermission.

"He (Charlie) is an outstanding kid and a football guy. He's a Division I recruit for a reason and we are happy to have him. He's a (heck) of a football player," DeGeorge said.

For the Blue Streaks, they will now direct their sights to a second round contest against five-time state champion and current three-time Division II state finalist Akron Hoban, the alma mater of DeGeorge, who also starred at Malone University. At press time, Hoban was on their way to a first round victory over Akron Firestone.

Hoban has lost three consecutive state finals, to Cincinnati Winton Woods, Toledo Central Catholic, and most recently, Massillon, who at press time opened defense of their state title with a 41-6 clawing of Pataskala Licking Valley and will host Canal Winchester next week. The Warriors, Irish, and Tigers all lost state title games to the Knights but avenged those, extending their title drought to three years.

Lake is a clear underdog but for now, DeGeorge wants his team to relish their victory before turning their sights to the Knights.

"We are going to enjoy this win tonight and then get ready for the next one. Hoban is very good," DeGeorge cautioned.

For the Vikings, they end their season with two straight losses and a few bad breaks from a potential Federal League title but Baum Sr. admired the fight of his team in overcoming adversity and epitomizing what North Canton Hoover football is about.

"We start getting after it again next month and the young guys have to realize that there are a lot of good seniors who just left this program. There are big shoes to fill and our guys have to work hard just like those kids did, eat right, take care of their bodies, compete in other sports and lift every chance they get because it's a step up to varsity," he said. "We are losing 23 to 24 seniors that we have to replace."

The Lake Blue Streaks are moving onto the next round on a night where their fans had a lot to cheer for their team and a football name that left them saying 'Holy Christopher'!

UNDER PRESSURE. North Canton Hoover quarterback John Collins attempts to throw a pass under pressure from a Lake defender in the third quarter of Friday's playoff contest. (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.