WISH GRANTED: North Canton Hoover plunders Northland, draws Massillon
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
NORTH CANTON--The North Canton Hoover student section sent a message to a team whose hearts are burning to take back the regional championship.
"We want Massillon!"
The Vikings will get their wish next week in a second round Division II, Region 7 contest at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Paced by a 29-point second quarter and four touchdown passes from senior quarterback John Collins, the host Hoover Vikings plundered visiting Columbus Northland to the tune of a 50-6 finality at North Canton Memorial Stadium to push their record to 9-3 on the season. Hoover also scored on a blocked punt recovery in the second quarter.
The second half was played via running clock as North Canton led 43-6 at the intermission, actuating the state mandated clock rule. Everyone had a chance to see action much to the delight of 11th year North Canton general Brian Baum, who also praised Collins for his offensive prowess on the evening.
"We settled in there, they came out and gave great effort and we had a key turnover there, We had a couple of turnovers there and started to execute. When it's the playoffs, you have to execute on all three phases of the game and play at the highest level and we started kicking it up in the quarter," he said. "John did a good job of finding some zones and was able to read the defenses and make some plays. It was a fun night for him and I'm proud of him and the guys."
For the seventh time since the 2001 season, North Canton and Massillon will tangle once again in the playoffs with the Tigers holding a 6-1 edge with the Vikings lone win coming in 2008, a 14-7 victory when Jason Hall was in his first year as Tigers field general. That year, Hoover was in Division I and advanced to the state semifinals where their campaign ended to eventual state champion Cleveland St. Ignatius.
Baum is aware of the Massillon crowd and their unfailing ability to initiate false starts and delay of game penalties. But his charges believe they will be ready to tackle the challenge head on against a Tigers team that is expected by experts around the state to return to the regional final.
"That will be an exciting game for everyone involved. Massillon will be excited, we're excited to get down there and play. It will be a great environment and we will be ready," he said.
The North Canton Hoover student section sent a message that they wanted Massillon. Their wish has been granted.
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