THE ROAD TO CANTON: 105th meeting is a winner-take-all between Leopards and Vikings

 THE ROAD TO CANTON: 105th meeting is a winner-take-all between Leopards and Vikings

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

LOUISVILLE--There are two of the worst words that any video game player wants to see unless they are triumphant.

GAME OVER.

And for the Louisville Leopards and the North Canton Hoover Vikings, only one of those two schools will be moving on to the next stage of their season while the other will see those two dreaded words Friday night as the two schools will confront each other for the 105th time in their storied rivalry in a Division II, Region 7 first-round playoff assignment at Louisville Stadium with a kickoff time of 7 p.m.

This will be a rematch of a regular season affair six weeks ago as the Vikings were able to use a strong second half to close the door on the Leopards challenge with a 27-18 victory. Only now the stakes are even greater as only one will venture on to a second-round game against defending two-time regional champion Sunbury Big Walnut (10-0) at Big Walnut High School.

Region 7 is a very wicked region and one that features two teams who were expected to get back to the regional final for a third straight year that may potentially see each other one round sooner, one two-time state champion who moved up a division after cleaning out the bracket two straight seasons in a row, and another team whose father is a well-known college football coach and a national champion in the Buckeye state.

That is insanely crazy. But it adds to the spice and flavor of competition that playoff football is conceived from. And add in a rivalry matchup, that is the closest to a fan holding a Super Bowl party.

Hoover 12th year general Brian Baum Sr. is anticipating the challenge in front of his Vikings, who were a second-round participant last season.

"This rivalry is the second oldest in Stark County only behind Massillon and Canton McKinley and there are great relationships between the two communities," Baum said of Hoover and Louisville. "When I got here, this was the game you set your sights for as North Canton head coach."

For Louisville, they nearly started off their 2026 season without an identity. After a 6-5 season in 2025, head coach Chris Kappas returned to the University of Mount Union for a second stint as a defensive coordinator. Matt Furino was hired to be the new Leopards head coach only to resign a week into his tenure due to an unexpected situation.

Who could the Leopards turn to in a short amount of time? 

The answer was in front of them. Jake Adkins, a running back and linebacker who was a part of the 2007 Leopards Division II state title competing squad and an assistant was promoted to head coach.

After a home win to commence the season against New Philadelphia, Louisville found themselves at a crossroads following a 43-10 loss to Youngstown Ursuline and they were potentially headed for a lost season as they trailed Dover 14-0 and all game until Parker Daum's 26-yard field goal on the final play of regulation sealed a 15-14 comeback victory in front of a stunned Crater Stadium crowd.

That game marked a turning point for the Leopards. They trailed for 47:59 but it was that ONE second which made all the difference. And no, there wasn't a clock reset needed.

When asked if that game was the catalyst for their infusion to an 8-2 record, Adkins concurred as such.

"That's a very great question. Our boys just persevered and continued to stay the course and believed they could pull through and gave us the confidence to believe that we can win close games," he said.

Aside from the loss to Hoover, the Leopards have won five in a row, two of them in close affairs against Canfield and GlenOak and a major factor as to why they are 8-2 and hosting a playoff game against the same Vikings team they will see for a second time in five weeks.

For Hoover, it has been a challenging 10 weeks for them. They have twice held two-game winning and losing streaks. Last week, they gave Jackson everything they could handle for three quarters before succumbing to the Polar Bears in the final minute in the form of a 14-7 defeat at Robert Fife Stadium that handed the Federal League title outright to Jackson.

A bright spot for the Vikings was an earlier victory over the Leopards which stopped the first two-game losing streak. It took them the second half to finally operate but sometimes it's better late than never. Such cannot be the case Friday night.

"It was a tale of two halves, they controlled the first half and we controlled the first half. We imposed our will in the second half to get the victory," Baum said. "We know Louisville will be up for this game and it will be a challenge."

FIELD GENERALS. Louisville head coach Jake Adkins (left) and Dover head coach Matt Rees chat before their regular season contest at Crater Stadium. Adkins'  Leopards scored a 15-14 walk-off victory that propelled them to an 8-2 record and a matchup with North Canton Hoover Friday night. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Louisville knows that they were in command but just didn't drive the stake in the ground hard enough. It was a case of the Vikings continuing to hang around until they finally wrestled the game away from the hosts.

 

Having been raised in the Louisville City School district, Adkins was taught the importance of finishing what you started from his family and educators. It is something he has stressed to his legion of Leopards as they have aspirations of prolonging their season for another 48 minutes.

"We had controlled the first half of that game and we were up 14-0. But then they got a fake punt and a lot of momentum back and they scored right before the half. We just didn't play a full four quarters and we have to do that when you play a team like North Canton Hoover," Adkins said.

A key component that might determine the contest will be whoever can run the football. The Leopards may have an advantage on the offensive line with 6'8'', 315 lb. senior Aden Norris, who has committed to UConn. Norris play on the offensive line along with the execution of the rest of his teammates was a reason why quarterback Cody Zahler and their assortment of backs, led by Lucas Neff were able to obtain their season-turning win against Dover seven weeks ago.

North Canton isn't bad either in the running department with quarterback Nolan Bonner and running back Michael Lammlein who can do damage when their lines are blocking and sustaining blocks up front. 

Both teams defensively are very physical and are just one big tackle, hit, or forced turnover away from turning the tide of a game. And at this time in the playoffs, the defense just may have that one hero waiting for them in the clutch.

Both coaches are looking forward to the challenge that awaits them. However, only one will be headed to Big Walnut and the other will be heading into the offseason waiting to compete again in 10 months. It's safe to say that the road to Canton has commenced and the Vikings and Leopards are proud to be a part of it along with their communities.

"I have been on the staff for many years and before he left, Chris Kappas did a great job building a culture here. I have been on the staff for 13 years and raised my family here. We are thankful for the support and I just tell my players to be thankful and to do their jobs. Do all you can do this week 11," Adkins said.

"The atmosphere is going to be huge and the effort is going to be there. We had that same effort against Jackson and the heart is always going to be there. I will never question our kids effort or heart," Baum said. "We just have to give that same effort Friday night against Louisville."

FINAL CHECK. North Canton Hoover head coach Brian Baum Sr. goes through a final check with referees before his team's contest against Canton McKinley. The Vikings oppose Louisville with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Louisville Stadium Friday night. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

The two worst words that any player of a video game wants to see are 'game over'. For North Canton Hoover and Louisville, only one will keep their console going for another week while the other will see those dreaded words no video game player wants to see on their screen.

---PREP PRESS PIECES---

*The Excellent Eight: Eight Stark County high schools qualified for the 2026 OHSAA state football playoffs. North Canton Hoover, Canton McKinley, Louisville, Northwest, East Canton, Jackson, Central Catholic, and Massillon are this year's county representatives.

*Regional terror: When the season started, Big Walnut and Massillon were both picked to return to the regional final for a third straight season. A fifth matchup will potentially occur one round sooner if it materializes. Massillon had a bye week and will host next week the winner of Columbus St. Francis or Watkins Memorial in a second-round game. St. Francis quarterback RJ Day is the son of Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day and a Northwestern commit. Columbus Bishop Watterson, who won the last two Division III titles, ascended to Division II and are the top seed in Region 7.

*Speaking of Northwestern: Former Cincinnati LaSalle two-time state title winning tailback Cam Porter is a running back in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts. Porter is widely remembered for his three touchdowns that led the Lancers to a 34-17 win against top-ranked and undefeated Massillon in the 2019 Division II state championship. Porter shared a brief moment with Tigers record-setting quarterback Aidan Longwell outside the press room, commending him for his career with the Tigers. Longwell is now a first baseman with the Hartford Yard Goats, a Double A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

*Dover domination: In their first season of Ohio Cardinal Conference competition, the Tornadoes won the OCC title outright with a last-second comeback against rival New Philadelphia. The Tornadoes (8-2) host Columbus South (8-2) in a Division III first round playoff game Friday night at Crater Stadium at 7 pm. 

*Coaches in control: Massillon's 31-0 win over Canton McKinley was their 11th straight over the Bulldogs dating back to 2016. Tigers general Nate Moore, who won his first of two state championships at Cincinnati LaSalle is a glamorous 11-1 against the Bulldogs. Dover head football coach Matt Rees is 12-8 in two seasons as Tornadoes coach but is a vivacious 6-0 against New Philadelphia (4-0 as a player, 2-0 as head coach)

MASSILLON WAGON. Massillon players band together to celebrate their 31-0 victory over Canton McKinley in last week's 137th meeting between the two schools. The Tigers open up the playoffs next week at home while McKinley opposes Brunswick in a first-round game in Division I. (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.