by North Canton, OH: Vikings quarterback John Collins threw a touchdown pass to Brycen Beyer with under two minutes to go. Unfortunately for Hoover (6-1), the extra point sailed wide left, eventually proving the difference in McKinley’s (6-1) 21-20 victory. Sophomore running back Kyelin West led the way for the Bulldogs, racking up 101 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Collins, playing injured, threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings.
First Half
After receiving the opening kickoff and moving towards midfield, the McKinley offense was forced to punt. The Bulldogs dropped quarterback Trent Hayden into the punting position, and he hit a beauty, pinning Hoover at their own six-yard line.
Facing a third and eleven and backed up in their own territory, Collins connected with Jack Andes, who rumbled 71 yards to put the Vikings up 7-0 early. It would not take the Bulldogs long to respond.
Starting on their own 25, McKinley put together a 13-play drive that ended with a seven-yard screen pass from Hayden to Deejay Britt to tie it up at 7-7. The Bulldogs’ defense responded with a big drive of their own, forcing a Hoover punt early in the second quarter.
McKinley’s next offensive drive stalled, but a beautiful punt pinned the Vikings inside the one-yard line. Hoover picked up a first down, but eventually had to punt. Darius Hill caught the kick at his 34, reversed field, and took it 66 yards for a McKinley touchdown, extending the lead to 14-7.
Hoover would get one more possession in the half, but nothing came of it. When the bands took the field, McKinley held a 14-7 lead.
Second Half
The Vikings received the second half kickoff and picked up a first down, but were forced to puntback to McKinley. Starting at their 17, the Bulldogs’ offense picked up yards in chunks, highlighted by two catches for 30 yards by Elijah Finn. On second and four from the eight, Kyelin West plowed into the end zone from eight yards out to extend the lead to 21-7.
With their backs against the wall, the Vikings’ offense came up with a big drive when they needed it. A big kick return gave them their best starting field position of the game, starting at the 50. A completion from Collins to Michael Lammlein converted a third and long to keep the drive alive. On second and goal from the one, Carson Dungan took the handoff through the middle for a one-yard score, drawing Hoover closer at 21-14 late in the third.
McKinley worked their next possession into Hoover territory, but it stalled out, and they were forced to punt. The Vikings took over with just over eight minutes remaining, but once again the Bulldogs’ defense forced a punt.
On third down of the ensuing McKinley drive, the Vikings defense forced a fumble and Carter Lukens recovered at the Bulldogs’ 24. Facing fourth and ten from the twelve, Collins hit Brycen Beyer in the end zone for a touchdown. Then, disaster struck, as the game-tying extra point attempt sailed wide left, allowing McKinley to hold on to a 21-20 lead.
The Bulldogs took over with under two minutes remaining and looked as if they would run time off the clock. On third and long, Hayden tried to throw into double coverage and was intercepted, giving Hoover new life at the McKinley 44. The Bulldogs’ defense came up strong, forcing four straight incompletions to end the threat.
All it took was a couple of kneel downs from Hayden to run out the remaining time and give McKinley a 21-20 win, keeping them atop the Federal League standings.
Keys to the Game
While offense and defense always grab the headlines, special teams proved to be the difference in this one. Not only did Darius Hill return a punt for a touchdown, but both Trent Hayden and Thomas Mankowski pinned Hoover inside their own ten with excellent punts. Unfortunately for the Vikings, their missed extra point is what doomed them, potentially ending their Federal League title hopes.
Next Week
The loss is the Vikings’ first of the season. They will look to get back into the win column next week when they host Perry (4-3). The Panthers fell 14-7 to Austintown-Fitch in Week 7.
McKinley stays unbeaten in the Federal League and will have a chance at a league title next week when they host Lake (6-1). The Blue Streaks suffered their first loss of the season to Jackson 40-37.
Top Performers
Canton McKinley Bulldogs
Kyelin West: 24 carries 101 yards TD 2 catches 26 yards
Trent Hayden: 15-19 134 yards TD INT
Deejay Britt: 5 catches 54 yards TD
Darius Hill: 3 catches 16 yards 66-yard punt return TD
Hoover Vikings
John Collins: 11-28 179 yards 2 TD
Jack Andes: 3 catches 94 yards TD
Michael Lammlein: 11 carries 52 yards 4 catches 45 yards
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Hoover 7:45- John Collins to Jack Andes, 71 yards (kick good)
McKinley 0:33- Trent Hayden to Deejay Britt, 7 yards (kick good)
2nd Quarter
McKinley 3:00- Darius Hill, 66-yard punt return (kick good)
3rd Quarter
McKinley 4:21- Kyelin West, 8-yard run (kick good)
Hoover 0:58- Carson Dungan, 1-yard run (kick good)
4th Quarter
Hoover 1:57- John Collins to Brycen Beyer, 12 yards (kick wide left)
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL | |
| McKinley | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Hoover | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
